Tyler Kolek Walks Back Taylor Swift Fandom Comment

CLEVELAND — The visitors locker room at Rocket Arena sounded like a Sweet 16 playlist on shuffle Saturday night, with Knicks guard Jalen Brunson running the setlist: "Shake It Off," then "You Belong With Me," "Style" and "Bad Blood," according to the New York Post. The Taylor Swift songbook came on after the Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-97, and it landed a few feet from the one teammate who had, days earlier, questioned whether Swift was a real Knicks fan at all.

Tyler Kolek, the Knicks' second-year guard, used an NBA 2K League livestream this week to call Swift "the fakest celebrity Knicks fan on the bandwagon" and "performative" after she attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, the Post reported.

What Did Kolek Say About Swift's Fandom?

Kolek's original comments, made during the livestream, singled out Swift's appearance at the Finals as evidence she was riding the Knicks' title run rather than following the team. The remark circulated quickly enough that Kolek was fielding questions about it from reporters in Cleveland days later.

How Did Kolek Walk Back the Comment?

Kolek did not dispute making the comment. "It's just a question that was asked for me, that maybe I answered in the wrong way. Take that on the chin," he told reporters Saturday night, per the Post. He said teammates had since sent him evidence of Swift's longer history with the franchise. "People have been going back and sending me all this stuff about her coming to the games, and she was actually wearing a [No.] 13 jersey [of] Joakim Noah back in the day with Carmelo [Anthony]. That's on me. I wasn't up to date on my Taylor Swift Knicks fandom. So that's on me."

He added that he holds no grudge against the artist's music: "I love her music. We were just playing it five minutes ago, and I'm singing every word to every song. Nothing against her at all."

What Did the Knicks Organization Say?

A day before Kolek's on-record apology, the team issued its own statement defending Swift's ties to the franchise. "Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization," a Knicks spokesperson said, according to the Post.

When Has Taylor Swift Attended Knicks Games?

• Eastern Conference finals, Game 3, Rocket Arena — Swift attended with fiancé and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, an Ohio native, and was seen cheering for New York, the Post reported.
• NBA Finals, Game 4, Madison Square Garden — Swift's attendance prompted Kolek's livestream remark.
• This summer, Madison Square Garden — Swift and Kelce held their wedding at the Garden, a venue tied to the team's title run and subsequent ticket sales.
• Saturday, Rocket Arena — The Knicks returned to Cleveland for the first time since the conference finals, beating the Cavaliers 109-97 as Kolek's apology circulated.

Glossary

NBA 2K League — Esports league operated by the NBA and 2K Games in which current NBA players and pro gamers compete and stream; Kolek's original comment came during one of these broadcasts.

Performative — Term used to describe behavior done for show rather than genuine belief; the word Kolek used to describe Swift's fandom before retracting it.