Taylor Swift paid back NYC for wedding security, Mamdani says

Singer Taylor Swift has paid back New York City for security and other costs tied to her lavish days-long Madison Square Garden wedding festivities the week of July 4, the city’s mayor said.

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Zohran Mamdani said in a news conference Friday that Swift has already shelled out more than $160,000 to cover public resources spent by the city.

Everything we know about the Swift-Kelce wedding

“Taylor Swift … 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,” Mamdani said, referencing her star-studded wedding. “That was a permit that was finalized, I think, in just the days before the event itself.”

Neither the NYPD nor Swift immediately responded to request for comment.

Mamdani’s comments come after criticisms around Swift and partner Travis Kelce’s 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, NBC confirmed a New York Times report that an internal planning memo, distributed by the NYPD before the wedding, detailed the event’s 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 York’s 11th Congressional District.

“Taylor 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,” Malliotakis wrote. “Our officers are already working overtime for 4th of July festivities & NYC taxpayers should NOT be on the hook.”

During the press conference, Mamdani acknowledged that the summer had been an eventful one for New York, with the city not only hosting Swift’s wedding, but also the Knicks’ first championship in 53 years, the World Cup and more.