New York Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek has questioned Taylor Swift’s support for the team, calling her a possibly “performative” celebrity fan. His comments came during a livestream on Thursday, November 5, when he was asked to name the “fakest celebrity Knicks fan.”
The 25-year-old made the remarks during an NBA 2K TikTok livestream alongside his teammate Deuce McBride. Kolek suggested that some celebrities attend Knicks games because they want to be seen rather than because they genuinely support the team.
He then named Swift as a possible example. The video has now been deleted.
What Kolek Said
Kolek first spoke about celebrity fans in general. “At the Knicks games, I’d say it’s pretty performative. Because they’re not necessarily fans,” said Kolek. “Maybe Taylor Swift?”
“I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games,” he added.
McBride agreed with him. “Swifties are not gonna like that answer,” McBride laughed. He was talking about Swift’s huge fan base.
Kolek then seemed to step back from his words. “The Swifties, I’m gonna get some hate from the Swifties… I guess she’s got a lot going on so she can’t come all the time,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Kolek then seemed to step back from his words. “The Swifties, I’m gonna get some hate from the Swifties… I guess she’s got a lot going on so she can’t come all the time,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Kolek also said that when Swift does come to games, she is “a little performative.” McBride named Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan as part of the Knicks’ core group of celebrity fans. “Everybody else is usually solid,” McBride said.
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Swifties Defend Taylor Swift
Fans quickly came to Swift's defense on social media.
One use wrote on X, “There's nothing more fake and performative than trashing Taylor Swift for clicks. So lazy and unorignal."
Another wrote, “Is this cuz they weren't invited to the wedding?”
Third wrote, "'the swifties are gonna come for me for this' as they should becuase you're wrong."
“If there’s one thing Taylor and tyler have in common is that they were both sitting court side during the finals,” wrote another.
While another wrote, “Seriously who is this again? Or who are they? I’ve seen Taylor in the court more than these people.”
Taylor Swift's Knicks game appearances
As per US Magazine, Swift, 36, attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in June. She wore a “Stevie Knicks” T-shirt. Her friends Alana and Este Haim joined her in “Knickelback” and “Knickole Kidman” tees.
She had earlier attended an Eastern Conference Finals game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with Travis Kelce, 37, in May.