sports
Knicks guards call Taylor Swift the 'fakest' celebrity fan
Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride named Taylor Swift the 'fakest' celebrity Knicks fan in a video on the NBA 2K League's TikTok. The Knicks issued a statement defending Swift, who attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals at MSG.
Two Knicks guards called Taylor Swift the “fakest” celebrity Knicks fan in a video posted to the NBA 2K League’s TikTok account, Bleacher Report reported.
Tyler Kolek said Swift’s fandom is “a little performative.” Miles McBride agreed. The video was posted on the NBA 2K League’s official TikTok account.
The Knicks issued a statement to TMZ defending Swift. “Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden,” the statement said.
Swift attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, sitting alongside Alana Haim, Este Haim and Mariska Hargitay.
What the coverage missed
The Bleacher Report report covers the video and the Knicks’ response but does not explain why the Knicks felt the need to defend Swift. Celebrity attendance at games is valuable to teams. It generates media coverage and social media engagement. The Knicks did not issue a statement because they love Swift. They issued a statement because she is good for business.
The report also does not mention that Kolek and McBride are role players, not stars. Kolek is a second-round pick. McBride is a backup guard. Their opinions carry less weight than those of the team’s stars, but the video was posted on an official NBA account, which gave it a legitimacy it would not have had on a personal account.
What I think
The Knicks issuing a statement defending a celebrity fan against their own players is strange. Players are allowed to have opinions. Calling a celebrity fan “performative” is not a fireable offense. The statement suggests the team is more concerned about Swift’s feelings than its players’ freedom to speak.
Swift is a Knicks fan. She has been seen at games. Whether her fandom is genuine or performative is not something two backup guards can determine. The question is why anyone cares.
The answer is that celebrity attendance matters to teams. Swift at a Knicks game generates more media coverage than a win. The Knicks defended her because losing her would cost them attention. The statement was a business decision, not a loyalty test.