Singer Taylor Swift has paid back New York City for security and other costs tied to her lavish dayslong Madison Square Garden wedding festivities the week of July 4, the cityโs mayor said.
Zohran Mamdani said in a press conference on July 10 that Swift has already shelled out more than $160,000 to cover public resources spent by the city.
โTaylor Swift โฆ has paid already the cost of the permit that was lodged, which was over $160,000 for that event and for the response to that event,โ Mamdani said, referencing her star-studded wedding. โThat was a permit that was finalized, I think, in just the days before the event itself.โ
Neither the NYPD nor Swift immediately responded to TODAY.comโs request for comment.
Mamdaniโs comments come after criticisms around Swift and partner Travis Kelceโs use of taxpayer funds for their wedding. NBC News had confirmed that a permit was filed in the city for a major event at the legendary arena from July 2 through July 4, just ahead of the nuptials. Additionally, the outlet confirmed a New York Times report that an internal planning memo, distributed by the NYPD before the wedding, detailed the eventโs security measures, including hundreds of officers scheduled to be on patrol.
The extra security measures drew the ire of many, including Republican congressmember Nicole Malliotakis of New Yorkโs 11th Congressional District.
โTaylor Swift & Travis Kelce should reimburse NYPD for the 130 officers needed per day to keep their multi-million dollar, thousand person wedding at MSG safe,โ Malliotakis wrote. โOur officers are already working overtime for 4th of July festivities & NYC taxpayers should NOT be on the hook.โ
During the press conference, Mamdani acknowledged that the summer had been an eventful one for New York, with the city not only hosting Swiftโs wedding, but also the Knicksโ first championship in 53 years, the World Cup and more.
