Taylor Swift Fans Blast Monica McNutt Over Knicks Jab

ESPN personality and Knicks broadcaster Monica McNutt is walking back her viral Taylor Swift comment less than 24 hours after it sparked a wave of backlash online. After questioning whether the pop star was actually a Knicks fan during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, McNutt has now acknowledged that she was mistaken.

According to Fox News, the moment unfolded Wednesday night, June 10, at Madison Square Garden as Swift appeared on the arena’s video board during the matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. While much of the crowd greeted the singer with cheers, McNutt offered a less enthusiastic response during the broadcast. “Is that Taylor Swift? She’s not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl,” McNutt said as cameras focused on the Grammy-winning star.

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The remark quickly circulated across social media, where many Swift fans pushed back against the suggestion that she was simply making a celebrity appearance rather than supporting the team. Some pointed to Swift’s long history of attending Knicks games and her ties to New York City, which has served as both a home and creative inspiration throughout much of her career.

The criticism also came during a night when Swift’s presence was impossible to miss. She attended the game alongside actress Mariska Hargitay and was surrounded by a celebrity-heavy crowd that included Timothée Chalamet, Larry David, Ben Stiller, Jimmy Fallon, Jerry Seinfeld, and Kevin Jonas.

Evidence supporting Swift’s Knicks fandom predates her relationship with Travis Kelce by years. She has attended games at Madison Square Garden since 2014 and has previously been photographed with former Knicks stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. During Wednesday’s game, she also wore a “Stevie Knicks” shirt, a nod to both the franchise and Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks.

McNutt is now walking back the comment. Speaking with TMZ Sports on Thursday, June 11, the ESPN personality admitted she got it wrong after learning more about Swift’s long-running ties to the Knicks. McNutt said her reaction was based on having spent the entire season covering celebrity row at Madison Square Garden without seeing Swift in attendance, which led her to assume the pop superstar wasn’t a regular supporter.

But after discovering Swift’s connection to former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire and her history around the team, McNutt acknowledged she had misread the situation.

The appearance came just weeks after Swift and Kelce drew attention courtside during the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cavaliers and Knicks in Cleveland. That outing fueled another wave of headlines surrounding the couple, who continue to dominate entertainment and sports coverage amid reports that they are planning a summer wedding in New York City.

The biggest story of the night, though, was the playoff game itself. After trailing by 29 points, the Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history with a 107-106 victory.