Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s lavish New York City wedding reportedly came with an unexpected downside for some people working to keep it secure. As thousands celebrated the couple’s big day at Madison Square Garden, several NYPD officers claimed the event pushed an already overstretched police force to its limit during a scorching July 4 holiday weekend.
The reported complaints surfaced as the city was also juggling Independence Day celebrations, FIFA-related events, and America’s 250th anniversary festivities. According to officers who spoke anonymously to the media, the combination left many working marathon shifts in triple-digit temperatures.
NYPD sources say staffing demands for Taylor Swift’s wedding coincided with an already overwhelmed holiday weekend
According to The U.S. Sun, officers said they appreciated that Swift and Kelce had donated millions to charities supporting police and firefighter widows and that the couple was reportedly covering part of the overtime costs. Even so, some claimed the working conditions had been grueling.
“It’s the hottest day of the year, and everyone’s on overtime with no breaks in the sun,” one officer told The U.S. Sun. “We’re just looking for shade.”
The source added, “Everyone’s had to get their own drinks. You’d think they’d hand out beverages to all the workers just because it’s so hot.”
The officer reportedly acknowledged that the heat wave wasn’t the couple’s fault, but added, “Do something for the people who have to be here and work this because you decided to do this,” according to the outlet.
The outlet also reported that officers had been working through an especially busy week in New York City. “We don’t have the personnel to cover everything happening,” one officer claimed. “That’s why some of us have been working over 24, 30 hours in a row with no breaks.”
Another complaint centered on the location itself. “It’s a huge inconvenience, not only for us, but for everyone here. You can’t get into the Garden, you can’t use the entrances or the streets,” the officer told The U.S. Sun.
Security around Madison Square Garden was reportedly extensive ahead of the July 3 celebration. More than 100 NYPD officers were seen gathering for a security briefing, while roads surrounding the venue closed beginning at 1 p.m. Access to parts of Penn Station was also restricted at the New York Police Department’s request, according to the report.
The multi-day celebration reportedly began with a rehearsal dinner attended by celebrity guests before an estimated 1,000 people gathered for the wedding reception. The NYPD has not publicly commented on the officers’ reported claims.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK LARGE CELEBRITY EVENTS SHOULD PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR POLICE AND CITY WORKERS DURING MAJOR HOLIDAY WEEKENDS?
