Tyler Kolek didn’t take long to soften his stance after stirring up Taylor Swift fans with his “performative” comment about her Knicks support.
The Knicks guard was back in the spotlight on Saturday, Nov. 7, when Jordan Clarkson shared a video, via SNY Knicks, of Kolek celebrating New York’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the locker room, food in hand, Kolek was belting out “Blank Space” like he had something to prove.
“He apologizes…the kid is okay,” Clarkson wrote over the video, which first appeared on his Instagram Stories. “He’s a Swiftie.”
That little locker-room performance came after Kolek and teammate Miles McBride went viral for their appearance on Deflected, where they were asked to name the “fakest celebrity fan” on the team. Kolek got the first shot because McBride had made the next basket in their NBA 2K game, and he used it to call out what he sees as fans chasing attention around the Knicks.
“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative 'cause they just want to be seen at the game; they’re not necessarily fans,” Kolek said. “Maybe Taylor Swift. I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games.”
McBride immediately pushed back with a warning: “Swifties not gonna like that answer,” before giving his own nod to longtime supporters Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan. Kolek then tried to walk it back, saying Swift might have “a lot going on so she can’t come all the time.” Even so, he still called it “a little performative.”
The comments drew a response from the Knicks, who said, “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.”
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