Knicks guard Tyler Kolek likely knew Taylor Swift’s fans wouldn’t take kindly to his calling her the “fakest” celebrity courtside fan. Whether he meant it or not, Swifties are quick to defend the singer.
He may not have expected his own team to distance itself from the remark so quickly. A Knicks spokesperson said Swift has supported the team for years and has a long connection to Madison Square Garden, adding that the organization appreciates her support.
Kolek’s girlfriend, Lexi Sousa, didn’t exactly come to his defense, either. She pointed out that he had attended Swift’s Eras Tour. The backlash—including from Sousa—seems to have prompted him to soften his comments.
After the Knicks beat Cleveland, Kolek said he may have answered a question poorly and accepted responsibility for that. He added that he likes Swift’s music, saying he had been singing along to her songs just minutes earlier, and insisted he had nothing against her.
He also said he had since seen posts showing Swift at Knicks games, including one where she wore a Joakim Noah No. 13 jersey during Carmelo Anthony’s time with the team. Kolek admitted he hadn’t kept up with her history as a Knicks fan.
It’s a strange controversy for a team to get caught up in, especially when the original comment seems to have turned into a bigger story than it needed to be. The Knicks’ quick statement distancing themselves from it is another curious part of the episode.
Kolek might want to learn a little more about Kylie Jenner’s Knicks fandom, too. She’s one of my favorite celebrity fans, and I’d take it personally if anyone called her a fair-weather supporter. She may not have a massive fan base ready to jump into every argument, but she’s shown the team plenty of support.
Unlike Kolek, I’m not walking that one back. I also won’t be apologizing—though I suppose that could mean ending up singing Taylor Swift songs in the locker room.
