Taylor Swift testified Thursday that a former radio DJ reached under her skirt and intentionally grabbed her backside underneath her skirt during a meet-and-a-greet photo session before a 2013 concert in Denver.
"He stayed attached to my bare ass-cheek as I lurched away from him," the pop star testified in federal court during a trial over the claim.
Despite being stunned, Swift said she did not say anything to David Mueller about it because she did not want other fans lined up to hear anything and she did not want to cancel the event and disappoint them.
Swift said she tried to get as far away from Mueller as she could. She said she told Mueller and his girlfriend, Shannon Melcher, who was also in the photo, "thank you for coming" in a monotone voice before they left.
David Mueller sued Swift and others on her team, claiming they cost him his job and is seeking up to $3 million in damages. Swift countersued, alleging sexual assault, and is asking for a symbolic $1 judgment.
Swift said a security guard working for her witnessed the groping.
She testified guard Greg Dent saw David Mueller "lift my skirt" and grab her but that it was it was impossible for anyone to see Mueller's hand beneath her skirt and on her buttock because they were posing for the photo with their backs to a wall.
Swift said that someone would have had to have been underneath her to see the actual groping "and we didn't have anyone positioned there."
Mueller testified Wednesday that the photo taken before the concert was "weird and awkward," but he insisted that he touched Swift in the ribs, not in the rear.
Mueller testified his hand was touching Swift's skirt after he put his arm around her and their arms got crossed: "My hand was at rib-cage level and apparently it went down."
The case is being tried in federal court under a law allowing the proceeding when the parties live in separate states and the dispute involves a damages claim higher than $75,000.
Day 4 of the Trial : Taylor Swift first witness called to the stand. Says "It was a definite grab."
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Taylor Swift says on stand "he stayed latched on to my bare ass check as I moved away from him visibly uncomfortable." #taylorswifttrial https://t.co/UJATJksSh1
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
“It was a very shocking thing that I have never dealt with before…He grabbed my ass underneath my skirt. It was underneath my skirt" TS https://t.co/ZEDWipDXWL
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
When asked if Mueller touched her at any other point, Swift said he was too busy grabbing her ass under her skirt to touch her anywhere else https://t.co/VrxK4WuZvh
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
"He was busy grabbing my ass underneath my skirt so he didn’t grab it outside my skirt” said Taylor Swift #taylorswifttrial https://t.co/jf0vnWSnQa
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
She said after it happened “I just said in a monotone voice thank you for coming and then they were gone” & went on with her meet & greet https://t.co/E373vCJjnK
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Taylor Swift said she didn't want to ruin the experience of fans that were standing by their waiting's experience. She so she continued https://t.co/ExmiIvC2mc
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Mueller's atty said you could have taken a break and Taylor Swift responded "and your client could have taken a normal photo with me." https://t.co/81GpfQhJaT
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift is wearing a floral top and has her hair back. Her hands are clasped on top of each other as she leans on the stand. https://t.co/cjejyePDRg
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift is clearly aggravated by Mueller's atty line of questioning as to why no one directly saw the groping. https://t.co/5ZYFuP2yAe
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
“The reason why this was such a devious and sneaky act is that there was a wall behind me," said Taylor Swift. https://t.co/vzmBiCYCwH
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Taylor Swift said to her photog “I said that dude just grabbed my ass & she said I know exactly which one you are talking about I have pic https://t.co/zTO4s2jsu3
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift said she does not blame her bodyguard for not stopping Mueller bc “It was horrifying, shocking, & we had never experienced it before.” https://t.co/qg259btDb7
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift said she is not critical of her bodyguard “I’m critical of your client sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass. " https://t.co/RcgUKpLVFu
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift seems pissed off being is forced to relive the details of this incident. She thought both Mueller & his girlfriend were intoxicated https://t.co/1byekyZAKE
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift “I have experienced every awkward encounter.. this was not jostling. we were perfectly in position for the photograph to be taken." https://t.co/Z7OBh7MSvY
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
“He did not touch my rib, he did not touch my hand, he grabbed my bare ass," said #TaylorSwift contradicting Mueller's testimony https://t.co/UumQt4HwGH
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
As for Mueller calling her cold she said “but I am not surprised I have a new and uncanny ability to elicit new types criticism.” https://t.co/DDFmHRK7TM
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
On Mueller's firing Swift said “I am not going to allow your my client to make me feel like it is anyway my fault because it isn’t.” https://t.co/266Rbh6wBg
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Swift said she didn’t have an any feelings on Mueller a person I don’t know him but “I thought what he did was despicable.” https://t.co/bsYwxPuDoZ
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
When asked if she was open to the possibility that it was someone else. “He had a handful of my ass. I know it was him.” https://t.co/cTlI9QBSN5
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
“I wouldn’t need that photograph. I could have picked him out of a line of a thousand," said Swift of Mueller. https://t.co/it4gRbB2Sv
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
When asked whether she had watched police shows. “Yesss! I named my cat after Olivia Benson on Law & Order. “ https://t.co/p8rc1zOghK
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Asked if she should look at other photos “I know exactly who did this, this is what happened. It happened to me. I know it was him.” https://t.co/1AOqd5Pzc5
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
When asked if she could see the incident directly Swift said she couldn’t see exactly because her “ass in the back of her body.” https://t.co/3hYJySWRzQ
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
After spending a little under an hour on the stand, Swift's attorney said he no questions for her and she was excused from the stand. https://t.co/TdrvllAOoO
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Support from the Swifties across the street for #taylorswift pic.twitter.com/dBcbibNFK5
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) August 10, 2017
Associated Press writer P. Solomon Banda contributed to this report.
