Knicks Analyst Apologizes for Saying Taylor Swift Is Not a Knicks Fan After Spotting Her at NBA Finals Game

New York Knicks game analyst Monica McNutt apologized on June 11 for questioning Taylor Swift's loyalty to the team after a hot-mic remark during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. McNutt was recorded on June 10 telling colleague Tyler Murray, "She's not a Knicks fan," after spotting Swift courtside. The comment drew immediate backlash from Swift's fans.

Speaking to TMZ Sports the next day, McNutt addressed the reaction directly. "Swifties, I appreciate your passion. I said what I said. And here's the deal, if I'm wrong," she stated. "I misspoke. I did not know," McNutt added.

She noted that she had worked with the Knicks organization for five years and was familiar with other celebrities who regularly attended games, including Ben Stiller, his wife Christine Taylor, Spike Lee, and Fat Joe. McNutt said she had not seen Swift at a Knicks game this year or last year. "And we just saw her in Cleveland with her fiancé (Travis Kelce).

Obviously, Travis supports the Cavs. She didn't have any Knicks paraphernalia, so I did not know of her Knicks loyalty," she said. Taylor Swift attended the June 10 game wearing a "Stevie Knicks" T-shirt and sat courtside with Haim sisters Alana and Este, who also wore shirts featuring Knicks-related puns.

She was one of about a dozen celebrities at the game. In a 2014 interview with TIME, Swift said she had long supported the Knicks. "I love them, though," she said. "I talk with them and hang with them every time I'm there.

Swift also recalled performing at the Knicks' Madison Square Garden Kids Talent Competition at halftime when she 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," she said.