New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek has publicly walked back a comment in which he described Taylor Swift as the “fakest” celebrity fan who sits courtside, after swift backlash from Swift’s fan base, known as Swifties, and even his own girlfriend.
The Knicks organization moved quickly to distance itself from Kolek’s remarks. A team spokesperson told OutKick, “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.”
Kolek’s girlfriend, Lexi Sousa, also did not back her boyfriend’s take. She pointed out that Kolek himself had attended Swift’s Eras Tour, undercutting his claim about fake celebrity fandom.
Facing pressure from multiple directions, Kolek addressed the controversy after the Knicks’ win over the Cleveland Cavaliers this weekend, according to the New York Post.
“It’s just a question that was asked for me, that maybe I answered in the wrong way. Take that on the chin. 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,” Kolek said.
Kolek went further, acknowledging he hadn’t been aware of the depth of Swift’s history with the team.
“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.”
The episode comes as Swift’s attendance at sporting events, including NFL games, has repeatedly drawn attention and criticism from some sports fans, even as others, including NFL legend Emmitt Smith, have defended her presence.
