New York Knicks guards Tyler Kolek and Deuce McBride were asked during a livestream appearance this week to name the "fakest" celebrity fan they'd seen courtside at Madison Square Garden. Kolek's answer: Taylor Swift.
"Maybe Taylor Swift. I don't know if I've seen her at any other games," Kolek said, according to a report from TMZ, though he allowed that her schedule as a touring musician made frequent attendance difficult. McBride, asked the same question, pointed instead to actors Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan as "solid" courtside regulars.
The comments spread quickly online, and by Friday the Knicks organization had issued a statement defending Swift's loyalty. "Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization," a team spokesperson said, according to coverage from NBC Boston.
It is not the first time Swift's Knicks fandom has been questioned. Knicks broadcaster Monica McNutt made a similar remark during the team's run to the NBA Finals in June, when Swift was seen cheering courtside against the San Antonio Spurs. Supporters note she has followed the franchise for years, predating both Kolek's and McBride's time on the roster.
Swift's own sports allegiances have drawn scrutiny before: she has become a fixture at Kansas City Chiefs games since dating tight end Travis Kelce, and some fans argue her NBA appearances are comparatively rare by contrast. The Knicks' Finals run against the Spurs in June marked one of her most high-profile courtside appearances of the year.
Reaction split along familiar lines. Swift's fans pushed back, citing her history with the team; others sided with Kolek, with one social media post reading, "Finally somebody said it." Neither player has walked back the remarks, and the Knicks' statement appears to have closed the matter — for now — without further comment from Swift herself.