Knicks defend Taylor Swift after players name her 'fakest celebrity fan'
The New York Knicks organization has defended Taylor Swift after team players Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride labeled her a 'performative' and 'fake' celebrity fan. The team emphasized her long-standing support and history with Madison Square Garden.
Why it matters
The incident illustrates the tension between professional athletes' perceptions of celebrity culture and the marketing strategies of major sports franchises.
Image source, Getty Images By Olivia Ireland Published 7 November 2026, 10:04 GMT Updated 6 minutes ago The New York Knicks has defended superstar Taylor Swift, after players named her as the fakest celebrity fan.
The basketball team's point guards Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride were asked who the least genuine celebrity Knicks fan was during a NBA 2K livestream on Thursday.
"At the Knicks games, I would say it's very performative, cause like they just want to be seen at the game, they're not necessarily fans. Maybe Taylor Swift?" Kolek responded.
In May and June this year, Swift attended Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Cleveland and Game Four of the NBA Finals in New York City .
"I don't know if I've seen her at any other games," Kolak said.
Also covering this story
6 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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Knicks' Tyler Kolek calls Taylor Swift 'fakest' celebrity fan
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