Taylor Swift is always in the news on the internet as the global pop icon is never away from the spotlight. However, she is lately finding herself in the sports headlines, all because she was seen supporting the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals.
Skip Bayless Rips Taylor Swift for Fake Knicks Fandom
Veteran sports analyst Skip Bayless took aim at Swift today on “The Skip Bayless Show” over her decision to cheer for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Swift was present at Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. She was spotted courtside with Alana Haim, Este Haim, and actress Mariska Hargitay, and wore a “Stevie Knicks” shirt.
Since the cameras repeatedly found Swift throughout the game, Bayless voiced his complaint about her fandom.
“She knew exactly what was happening,” Bayless said. “Because courtside seats for celebrities have become a big deal and she knows that the TV is going to play to them even more than they play to her up way up in the box at a Kansas City Chiefs’ home.”
“She’s from Philadelphia, which should, like, you should be a born rival of everything New York,” Bayless added. “But still, you want to talk about turning into a phony Knicks fan for the night, and acting like this is the biggest thing that ever happened to you. It was disgusting. It was stomach-turning, and it was so vintage Taylor Swift.”
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Bayless labeled Swift as a “brilliant marketer,” saying that Travis Kelce’s fiancée knew the camera would follow her throughout the game.
The whole drama over Swift’s Knicks fandom began during Game 4, when reporter Monica McNutt was caught on a hot mic questioning whether the singer was actually a Knicks supporter.
After McNutt questioned her Knicks loyalty on the broadcast, Swifties attacked the reporter online, and then McNutt apologized during an interview with TMZ Sports.
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She admitted to being unaware that Swift had supported the team in the past. McNutt pointed out that Swift owns an Amar’e Stoudemire jersey and said she had not realized the singer’s connection to the franchise.
The whole situation became such a talking point that Knicks star Jalen Brunson addressed Swift’s fanbase while he was with McNutt after New York secured the NBA championship.
“I just want to say something to the Swifties,” Brunson said. “She’s a really good one. Cut her some slack. It’s all good. I promise.”
Nonetheless, Swift’s appearance came during a historic night for the Knicks as they erased a 29-point second-half deficit to beat the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4. The Knicks won the series in Game 5 to win their first NBA title since 1973.
