New York cops reportedly have some "bad blood" over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding, with officers allegedly working overtime in extreme heat to help keep details of the event under wraps.
Dozens of police officers, along with construction crews, have reportedly been stationed at the couple's rumored wedding venue, Madison Square Garden, throughout the week as temperatures climbed during one of the hottest stretches of the year. The decision to hold the event over the Fourth of July weekend has reportedly added to officers' frustration.
Several officers told The US Sun on Thursday that they are exhausted and overworked after spending long hours standing in the sweltering 100-degree heat.
"Taylor tried to make good with the city by donating to the police fire widows - that was the smartest thing she did. She’s also paying part of the overtime," officers told the outlet.
While the officers said the heat wave isn’t Swift’s fault, they complained about having to provide their own drinks despite the extreme heat, saying more should have been done to support those working long hours at the event.
"And the thing is, they picked this week. You have FIFA and then you have the 250th, the city is already maxed,” the officers said, claiming that 30 NYPD members were at MSG.
The celebration is reportedly a multi-day event, which seemingly started with a rehearsal dinner Thursday night with celeb attendees including Selena Gomez, Greg Olsen, Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff.
About 100 guests are said to have attended the dinner at the Infosys Theater inside MSG, according to an internal police memo cited by The New York Times. Guests arrived in cars and tinted Sprinter vans and entered the venue through a tented entrance on 31st Street.
Friday’s reported itinerary includes a cocktail hour, a 5:30 p.m. wedding ceremony and a reception expected to last into the early morning, though there is also speculation the couple may have already exchanged vows privately, according to Page Six.
“We don’t have the personnel to cover everything happening,” officers continued. “That’s why some of us have been working over 24, 30 hours in a row with no breaks.”
More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend Friday's wedding festivities as authorities maintain a heavy security presence at the World's Most Famous Arena for one of the world's biggest celebrity couples.
The event is being tightly controlled with security and efforts to keep it private. Large curtains have gone up around the arena, cars are entering through the loading bay and roads have been closed near the event.
“It’s a huge inconvenience, not only for us, for everyone here, you can’t get into the Garden, can’t use the entrances, the streets."
Both drivers and pedestrians will be affected by upcoming closures. Starting at 11:15 p.m. Thursday, parking is prohibited on West 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, and any vehicles left there will be towed.
The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 1 p.m. Friday:
- Seventh Avenue between 30th and 34th Streets
- West 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- West 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- West 31st Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- West 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
Pedestrians will not be allowed in the following areas starting at 1 p.m. Friday:
- West side of Seventh Avenue between 31st and 34th Streets
- West 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
Starting at 1 p.m. Friday, the NYPD will also implement what it calls “managed access” in the following areas:
- East side of Eighth Avenue between 30th and 34th Streets
- West 33rd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- West 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- West 31st Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
- Penn Station on the northeast corner of Eighth Avenue and 31st Street
The Independent has contacted the NYPD for comment.
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