A former Denver radio personality is singing the blues over an encounter with Taylor Swift that went horribly wrong.
David Mueller filed a lawsuit against Swift in U.S. District Court in Denver last week, claiming he was fired from his job after being accused of “grabbing Ms. Swift’s bottom” at a meet-and-greet, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap Sunday.
Mueller, who was known on air as “Jackson,” said he was with his girlfriend and co-worker Shannon Melcher, when the two met Swift backstage at the Pepsi Center on June 2, 2013. The pair took a picture with Swift and the photo is at the center of the lawsuit.
According to the court papers, Swift allegedly claimed that Mueller lifted her “skirt with his hands and grabbed her bottom” as a photographer snapped a picture of the group. The singer’s security team then took swift action and removed Mueller and Melcher from the venue. Mueller claims the security detail “verbally harassed” him as he was “escorted to an exit door.”
Mueller was fired from his job at KYGO-FM radio two days later, the lawsuit states. The radio personality maintains his innocence. However, a spokesperson for Swift says otherwise.
“The radio station was given evidence immediately after the incident. They made their independent decision,” the singer’s spokesperson told TheWrap Sunday.
Mueller’s “annual base salary was $150,000, with the potential for significant additional compensation in the forms of performance bonuses, product endorsement fees, and public appearance fees,” the legal documents say. Part of his job was to attend events with music superstars and other celebrities. The lawsuit seeks to recoup his lost income.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.