Knicks guard Tyler Kolek calls Taylor Swift the fakest fan at Madison Square Garden
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek named Taylor Swift the fakest celebrity fan at Madison Square Garden during a TikTok stream, while teammate Deuce McBride agreed that Swifties would not like the answer.
New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek has named Taylor Swift the fakest celebrity fan at Madison Square Garden, drawing a reaction from both fans and social media. The remark came during an NBA 2K stream on TikTok, where Kolek was asked to rank the celebrities who sit courtside at the team's home games.
Kolek said he had not seen Swift at other Knicks games, and he contrasted her with actors Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan, whom he described as solid, regular fans of the team. Teammate Deuce McBride agreed with the assessment and said Swifties would not be pleased with the answer. The exchange was shared widely after the stream, and it prompted a wave of commentary from supporters on social media.
The comments centered on Swift's appearance at a Knicks game alongside the HAIM sisters, who wore "Stevie Knicks" shirts. In a column published by OutKick, the sports site operated by Fox News, the writer argued that the appearance looked more like performative branding than genuine interest in basketball. The piece compared Swift's pattern of attending games to the way NFL broadcasts cut to celebrities in the stands, suggesting that her presence is often designed for the camera rather than the sport.
The writer pointed to Swift's NFL attendance as evidence of that pattern, noting that she has been seen at Arrowhead Stadium with Brittany Mahomes. The column framed these appearances as part of a broader image strategy in which high-profile sports attendance can serve a commercial or public-relations purpose. The argument rests on the author's reading of her attendance habits rather than on any statement from Swift herself.
Swift has not publicly responded to the criticism, and the reporting notes no reply from her camp. The backlash on social media has been heavy, with many fans defending her as a passionate supporter of sports and music alike. The debate has added to a longer conversation about how celebrity fandom is perceived at arenas, where courtside seats are often filled by public figures whose interest in the game is debated.
The remarks come at a time when the Knicks are enjoying a historic title run, a stretch that has put the team and its arena in the national spotlight. The fan culture around Madison Square Garden has drawn attention throughout the postseason, and the question of who truly belongs in the stands has become a flashpoint for supporters. Kolek's comments, made casually during a video game stream, have now become part of that discussion.
Source: foxnews.com
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