Days after reports claimed that Taylor Swift cost New York tax payers a tune of USD 1 million for hosting her star-studded wedding to Travis Kelce in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped up to set the record straight.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirms Taylor Swift already paid NYC
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mamdani was quizzed on whether the singer would reimburse the city for expenses on her July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden. Amid criticism over the public cost of policing the high-profile event, Mamdani confirmed that Taylor had ‘already paid’ the city. “Taylor Swift will be paying… has already paid the cost of the permit that was lodged, which was over USD 160,000 for that event and for the response to that event. And that was a permit that was finalised in the days just before the event itself,” Mamdani said in a video posted by CSPAN.Watch: Mayor Zohran Mamdani defends Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift paid USD 160,000 for permit
When asked whether the USD 160,000 covered only the permit fee or also included overtime costs for the New York Police Department (NYPD), the mayor clarified that the amount referred to the permit fee.Addressing the city’s approach to hosting large-scale events, Mamdani said, “Now, when it comes to this summer, as you have heard from State Senator Gonzales, it’s a summer where we’ve not only had a state championship in 53 years, the World Cup, our nation’s 250th anniversary, a number of what are both historical and generational events. We have made it clear that there would be limitations in terms of what the city will be able to do. However, that would not limit a New Yorker’s ability to go to the park, to have a BBQ, to have a lot of the things that were feared at first.”
About Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding
Swift and Kelce tied the knot last Friday in a lavish ceremony at Madison Square Garden. The ceremony was reportedly attended by around 1,000 guests, including several A-list celebrities from Hollywood, music, sports, television and other family and close friends. For the event, the singer reportedly sought permission to close certain roads and set up elaborate security measures to ensure privacy for the wedding, which took place on one of the busiest weekends.Media reports have estimated the multi-day wedding celebrations cost anywhere between USD 15 million and USD 20 million, making it one of the most expensive celebrity weddings in recent years.
