See more of our coverage in your search results.
Tyler Kolek’s girlfriend, Lexi Sousa, made it clear that she’s a proud Swiftie after the Knicks guard faced backlash from the singer’s fans for calling her out as the “fakest” celebrity supporter of the team.
Sousa broke her silence on the drama in the comment section of Kolek’s Instagram carousel post Sunday, captioned, “Tyler’s Version” — which was a take on the title of Swift’s re-recorded albums and songs during her music catalog dispute.
“Era’s tour attendee mind you !!” Sousa wrote, including a white heart emoji, referring to Swift’s record-breaking tour, which wrapped in December 2024 after 149 shows across 21 countries.
Sousa also reshared her comment to her Instagram Story.
In another post, Sousa shared a photo while in the car and listening to “All Too Well” — the 10-minute version by Swift.
“Back on my grind (passenger princess-ing),” she wrote, indicating that Kolek was behind the wheel.
Kolek explained that he wasn’t aware of Swift’s Knicks fandom on Saturday following the Knicks’ 109-97 win over the Cavaliers.
“It’s just a question that was asked for me, that maybe I answered in the wrong way. Take that on the chin,” Kolek said. “I love her music. We were just playing it five minutes ago, and I’m singing every word to every song. Nothing against her at all.
“People have been going back and sending me all this stuff about her coming to the games, and she was actually wearing a [No.] 13 jersey [of] Joakim Noah back in the day with Carmelo [Anthony]. That’s on me. I wasn’t up to date on my Taylor Swift Knicks fandom. So that’s on me.”
Kolek called out Swift when him and teammate Deuce McBride were answering questions during an NBA 2K TikTok livestream on Thursday. That video has since been deleted from the NBA 2K TikTok.
When asked “Who is the fakest celebrity Knicks fan?” Kolek singled out Swift.
“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative,” Kolek said. “Because they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans. Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games. I guess she has a lot going on so she can’t come all the time. But it’s a little performative.”
McBride agreed but said “Swifties” wouldn’t like his answer.
“I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties,” Kolek added.
And he was right.
Swift’s fanbase destroyed him online and reminded him that he played zero minutes in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Swift stole the spotlight on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden when the Knicks pulled off a historic comeback to beat the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the Finals. The Knicks then won Game 5 on the road to win their first title in 53 years.
The Knicks released a statement in defense of Swift after Kolek’s comments ruffled some feathers.
“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,” the Knicks said in a statement Friday.
Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce got married at MSG on July 3.
Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson defended Kolek in an Instagram Story video on Sunday, which showed his teammate singing Swift’s hit song, “Blank Space” while in the locker room.
“He apologizes… the kid is okay. He’s a Swiftie,” Clarkson wrote.
Kolek made headlines when he had a run-in with police after they mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York in June.
