Knicks Back Taylor Swift After Tyler Kolek Labels Her Support Performative
The New York Knicks issued a statement praising Swift's decade-long relationship with Madison Square Garden after teammate Miles McBride prompted Kolek's critique during a livestream.
By Grace Almasi ·
The New York Knicks officially defended Taylor Swift on Friday, countering comments made by forward Tyler Kolek that labeled her support of the team as performative. A Knicks spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that Swift has been a fan for many years and holds a long history with Madison Square Garden. The organization stated it is incredibly appreciative of her continued support.
The comments originated earlier this week during an NBA 2K TikTok livestream hosted by Kolek and teammate Miles McBride. McBride asked Kolek to identify the fakest celebrity Knicks fan. Kolek pointed to Swift, suggesting that some celebrities attend games primarily for attention rather than team support. He noted that she has not been seen at many other games, attributing her absence to a busy schedule.
"At the Knicks games, I would say it is very performative. Because they just want to be seen at the game; they are not necessarily fans," Kolek said. "Maybe Taylor Swift?" He added that he was unsure if he had seen her at other games, though he acknowledged she likely cannot attend all the time.
Swift's history with the franchise extends beyond recent playoff appearances. She was spotted courtside during Game 4 of the NBA Finals in June, where she wore a Stevie Knicks T-shirt and sat with friends Alana Haim, Este Haim, and Mariska Hargitay. She also attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals with Travis Kelce when the Knicks faced the Cavaliers.
Her connection to Madison Square Garden dates back to when she was 13 years old, when she first performed at the venue. She has since performed multiple sold-out concerts there. In July, Swift and Kelce held their wedding ceremony at the same arena, drawing a large group of celebrity guests.
Kolek's girlfriend, Alexi Sousa, responded to the remarks in a TikTok post on Friday. Sousa, who identified herself as a Swiftie, wrote a caption about waking up next to Kolek and seeing his comments about her favorite celebrity Knicks fan. She noted that Swift is her favorite celebrity supporter of the team.
The Knicks' statement served as a direct institutional response to the player's public criticism. The team emphasized Swift's long-standing presence at the venue, noting her role as both a fan and a performer at the historic site.
