Knicks star Tyler Kolek calls out Taylor Swift as team’s ‘fakest’ celebrity fan: ‘A little performative’

New York Knicks point guard Tyler Kolek labeled pop superstar Taylor Swift as the team's "fakest" celebrity fan during an NBA 2K TikTok livestream. Kolek argued that celebrity appearances at games often feel "very performative" and questioned Swift's long-term loyalty after she attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Teammate Deuce McBride concurred during the stream while cautioning Kolek about the inevitable backlash from Swift's dedicated fan base.

Swift had attended the Knicks' 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in June alongside Este and Alana Haim, shortly after supporting the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in the postseason. Despite Kolek's remarks, fans noted that archival photos show Swift attending Knicks games dating back to 2014 and 2015 alongside Jimmy Fallon and former players Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire. The guard's comments provoked mixed reactions online across basketball enthusiasts and pop culture followers.