Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance at Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 10, wearing a custom 'Stevie Knicks' pun tee. She was accompanied by the Haim sisters and Mariska Hargitay, cheering courtside as the New York Knicks pulled off the largest comeback in Finals history. The crowd erupted in excitement.
However, Knicks radio analyst Monica McNutt was less thrilled. Caught on a live mic without realizing it, McNutt spotted Swift on celebrity row and remarked, 'She's not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl.' The clip quickly went viral on social media, drawing the attention of Swift's fanbase. By Thursday morning, McNutt was doing damage control in an interview with TMZ.
Monica McNutt's Apology and Clarification
Speaking to TMZ, McNutt explained that she misspoke and was unaware of Swift's history with the Knicks. She had covered celebrity row throughout the season for a piece and had never seen Swift there before. From her vantage point in the radio booth, McNutt noted that Swift wore no Knicks gear and had made no prior appearances, making her seem like another celebrity using the Finals as a photo op.
Since then, McNutt has been corrected. She acknowledged that Swift once wore an Amar'e Stoudemire jersey and called it a fair point. As a peace offering, she said, 'Shoutout T-Swift. We can be united.' It was a classic New Yorker apology—half sorry, half still right. She also pointed out that Travis Kelce, Swift's rumored partner, cheers for the Cleveland Cavaliers, so Swift's presence at a Knicks Finals game was not an obvious call.
Is Taylor Swift Actually a Knicks Fan?
Yes, and there is substantial evidence. Swift told Time magazine: 'I performed at the Knicks' Kids Talent Competition at halftime when I was 12 or 13. And ever since then, I've had this kind of sparkly, magical opinion of Madison Square Garden and the Knicks, since they let me sing when I was a little kid.' That is not just casual fandom—it is an emotional origin story.
In 2014, Swift posed with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire in a No. 13 Knicks jersey, her favorite number. She told Time that she loved the Knicks specifically because of her friendship with Stoudemire and his wife, whom she bonded with at the Met Ball annually. That same season, she attended a Knicks-Bulls game with Karlie Kloss and a Knicks-Magic game where she sat in celebrity row alongside Amanda Seyfried, Justin Long, Kate Upton, and Justin Verlander.
Even Travis Kelce acknowledged her fandom recently on his podcast New Heights: 'Not a lot of teams have been able to get Taylor to wear a jersey, and the Knicks did. Tay's got a lot of New York ties.'
The Complication
However, Swift's last MSG appearance was 12 years ago. Just weeks before Game 4, she was courtside in Cleveland for the Eastern Conference Finals, watching the Knicks lose to Kelce's Cavaliers. Kelce called it a 'fun date night,' not a team switch.
Swift is a documented Knicks fan, with a jersey and a childhood memory attached. But she has been absent from MSG for over a decade and recently attended a game against her own team. McNutt was wrong about the facts, but the spirit of her question was completely fair.
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About the Author
Amisha Pandey has been covering the NFL since 2024, with her eyes always locked on the latest buzz—from dating rumors to Instagram posts. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a flair for storytelling, she mixes quirky words with an easy, consumable style that keeps readers hooked. Beyond football, Amisha dives into pop culture, viral trends, and celebrity drama, while her personal passions include music, rap, movies, and content creation. Whether it is breaking down an NFL controversy or vibing to the latest track, she brings the same energy and curiosity to everything she does.
