ESPN Star Draws Criticism for Taylor Swift Comments at NBA Finals Game 4

With NBA Finals Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, a lot of New York Knicks superfans were in the building to support their favorite team as they attempt to win a third championship.

Among the regulars attending the game in courtside or near-courtside seats were Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Timothee Chalamet, and Kylie Jenner. However, more celebrities were at Game 4, including “Saturday Night Live” legends Chris Rock and Adam Sandler, as well as comedian Jerry Seinfeld and musician Taylor Swift.

Swift drew plenty of attention at the game, including her wearing a special shirt representing her team as she sat courtside near “Law & Order SVU” actor Mariska Hargitay and friends.

As ABC and ESPN are providing coverage of the NBA Finals, one of their radio crews on the scene went viral after they were caught on camera and live microphones discussing the singer.

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“Is that Taylor Swift down there?” Monica McNutt asked her colleague, Tyler Murray, who said he thought someone else was “saying her name to distract” him.

McNutt continued to tell her colleague that the woman with the “long ponytail” was in fact, Taylor Swift “in the blue.”

Murray took his phone and began using it to try to zoom in for a photo as McNutt called him out for doing so.

“She’s not a Knicks fan. Get out of here girl!” McNutt also said in the video footage, which circulated on social media.

Commenters reacted to the Barstool Sports X post, with many calling McNutt out for her comments about Swift attending the Knicks game.

“Hey, @McNuttMonica 👋 You're running the @NBA and kicking people out of games now? Who do you think has made more money for your employer @espn @Disney … you or @taylorswift?” a commenter asked, tagging McNutt.

“Monica McNutt can't tell a Barry Sanders and Shedeur Sanders jersey apart, and she falsely claims that Taylor Swift is not a New York Knicks fan. ESPN's finest,” another commenter wrote.

Others said, “@Disney @espn Maybe your employee needs some training on how to be professional,” and “She gotta get her facts straight because Taylor Swift has attended Knicks games for a long time.”

Swift may be a bigger Knicks fan than McNutt realizes. Another X account uploaded a collage of photos showing Swift’s Knicks fandom from over the years, with her rocking Knicks jerseys and attending several other games.

Swift was seen celebrating throughout the game, including her watching the Knicks make an impressive comeback to take the lead after trailing by 25-plus points earlier.

She previously appeared alongside her fiancé, NFL star Travis Kelce, at a Knicks Eastern Conference Finals game in Cleveland, against the Cavaliers. However, it appears she was there in support of the visitors, not the Cavs.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 9:13 PM.