New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson used his winning momentum after claiming the NBA title to try and call off the Swifties on behalf of his friend Monica McNutt.
McNutt drew the ire of fans of Taylor Swift after the pop star was spotted at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals last week.
In an apparent hot-mic moment, McNutt was heard saying, ‘She’s not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl.’
Her fans then jumped to her defense – pointing to Swift’s multiple past appearances at MSG for Knicks games and her residence in New York City.
After the backlash, Brunson took the radio host’s microphone during a post-game interview to advocate on her behalf.
The Finals MVP playfully bumped McNutt before saying, ‘I just want to say something to the Swifties: She’s a really good one, cut her some slack. It’s all good. I promise.’
Jalen Brunson attempted to call off the Swifties from MSG radio reporter Monica McNutt
McNutt made a comment about Taylor Swift attending Game 4 of the NBA Finals
McNutt apologized to Swift saying she was unaware of the singer’s history with the Knicks
After the backlash, McNutt provided an open apology to Swift, saying her feelings came from the singer’s previous attendance in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Cleveland alongside fiancée and Cavaliers fan Travis Kelce.
‘Swifties, I appreciate your passion, I said what I said,’ McNutt told TMZ in a street interview between Games 4 and 5 of the NBA Finals.Â
‘Here’s the deal, if I’m wrong, I am wrong apparently because she’s got an original Amar’e Stoudemire [Knicks] jersey. I misspoke. I did not know.Â
‘But here’s the deal, context, I literally just did a piece on Celebrity Row. I’ve been with his organization for five years. I know these folks — Ben Stiller, his wife Christine [Taylor], Spike Lee, Fat Joe. I had not seen her here this year or last year and we just saw her in Cleveland with her fiancée.
‘Obviously Travis supports the Cavs. She didn’t have any Knicks paraphernalia [on at the game], so I didn’t know of her Knicks loyalty. But shoutout to T. Swift, we can be united in orange and blue, it’s fine.
‘I did not know, I apologize if I’m wrong and apparently I am wrong and that fine but I did not know, because come on now — every Knicks fan has been in the building this year. So it’s all good.’
