Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 4
Hasan Piker Blasts Taxpayer-Funded Security for Taylor Swift's $15 Million Wedding
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 4

Hasan Piker Blasts Taxpayer-Funded Security for Taylor Swift's $15 Million Wedding

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 4

Summary

  • Hasan Piker called taxpayer-funded security for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s New York wedding a “dramatic misuse of public resources” and “a bad look” in comments posted across his social platforms.
  • The criticism centered on a roughly $15 million, multi-day event at Madison Square Garden, where media reports said public security costs were borne by taxpayers.
  • About 1,000 celebrity guests attended the Friday wedding in Manhattan, prompting street closures and crowd-control measures by New York City police and other agencies.
  • A city permit obtained by the AP showed the ceremony began at 5 p.m. ET, after a 100-person rehearsal dinner Thursday, with the reception scheduled to run until 4 a.m. Saturday.

Insights

Does a $26M charity donation justify using public funds for a lavish $15M private wedding?
Amid rising hate crimes, is securing a celebrity wedding the best use of a city’s limited police resources?
Should cities bill billionaires for the full public safety cost of policing their private mega-events?