The New York Knicks organization has publicly defended Taylor Swift's status as a fan after reserve guard Tyler Kolek questioned her allegiance to the team. A spokesperson for Madison Square Garden told The Daily Mail that Swift "has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden (MSG), and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization."
Kolek's comments came during a segment on the NBA 2K League's 'DefDeflected' show, where he named Swift as the team's "fakest celebrity" fan. He recalled seeing her at a game in June but suggested she was a recent addition to the fanbase, stating, "I don't know if I've seen her at any other games." His teammate, Miles McBride, cautioned him that "Swifties [are] not gonna like that answer."
Swift's fans quickly reacted on social media, with many pointing out Kolek's limited playing time. One widely shared comment stated, "Taylor been to more Knicks games than you Tyler."
While Swift's attendance at Knicks games has become more prominent in recent years, particularly since she began dating Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, older photos show her attending games at MSG in 2014 with friends like Karlie Kloss, Justin Verlander, and Kate Upton. She also attended a Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Knicks game in May, though she did not wear team apparel.
Kolek's remarks were not solely directed at Swift but also at celebrity attendees he perceived as "performative" and only attending games to be seen. "They're not necessarily fans," he said.
This is not the first time Swift's fandom has been a topic of discussion. Previously, MSG Network host Monica McNutt faced backlash after stating Swift was "not a Knicks fan." Knicks star Jalen Brunson later addressed the controversy, asking Swift's fans to "cut her some slack."
McNutt later clarified her comments, acknowledging she had been unaware of Swift's "Knicks loyalty" due to not seeing her in team apparel during games earlier that season, despite having seen her with other celebrities at games in prior years. She added, "T-Swift, we could be united in orange and blue. Like, it's fine."