Testimony Wraps Up in Taylor Swift Groping DJ Lawsuit

August 14, 2017

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Summary: On Monday, the jury in Taylor Swift’s case against DJ David Mueller will hear closing arguments.

Taylor Swift’s trial against an allegedly perverted DJ is coming to an end. CNN reported that the Denver jury will hear closing statements today from both Swift and the defendant, David Mueller; and then the eight-person jury will deliberate.

Swift met former Denver radio DJ David Mueller in the summer of 2013 at a meet-and-greet after one of her concerts. The two posed for a picture together with Mueller’s then-girlfriend, and during the photo op, Swift said that Mueller had lifted up her skirt and “grabbed [her] ass.” Below is the photo at the heart of this lawsuit:

Mueller denied the allegation, and the battle between him and the pop star started in 2015 after he filed a $3 million lawsuit against her, claiming that her false allegation had got him fired from his $150,000 a year job. In response, Swift countersued for $1 and said that he had sexually assaulted her.

Swift’s decision to sue for only $1 was to make a point that it was not okay to inappropriately touch others. According to MTV News, Swift’s goal was to empower other women to take a stand against sexual assault.

Swift, Mueller and other witnesses testified during the trial that took place in Denver, and on Friday, the judge threw out Mueller’s original lawsuit, citing that there was not enough evidence to prove Swift’s accusation was what had got him terminated from his job at radio station KYGO.

After the alleged 2013 incident, Swift had told her mother and members of her team that someone had grabbed her, and in court, Swift’s mother Andrea Swift said that they had decided not to go to the police but instead tell KYGO.

KYGO conducted an investigation and determined that Mueller should be terminated, and in his lawsuit, Mueller said that he was misidentified.

Swift, 27, testified on Thursday that Mueller, 55, had lifted up her skirt during the photo up and grabbed her buttcheek. When asked by Mueller’s lawyer if she cared that he had been fired, she responded, “I’m not going to allow you or your client to make me feel in any way that this is my fault, because it isn’t. I am being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are a product of his decisions, and not mine.”

Mueller said on the stand that he had not touched Swift’s butt and that the allegedly false claim had cost him his career.

“It’s a humiliating experience to be accused of something that despicable,” Mueller said.

Mueller’s then-girlfriend Shannon Melcher testified on Mueller’s behalf and said that she had not witnessed Mueller acting inappropriately. Greg Dent, Swift’s bodyguard who had been standing nearby, said that he had witnessed Mueller touch Swift but that he had not acted out in order to avoid a scene.

After closing statements, the jury will deliberate and must reach a unanimous decision in order for Swift to win her civil case.