Sports commentator Monica McNutt has publicly apologized to Taylor Swift. The request came after an open mic moment during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, where McNutt made a comment about the singer’s presence.
McNutt was heard saying “get out of here, girl” when she spotted the pop superstar on the court at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 10. The ESPN presenter acknowledged that she was not aware that Swift was a longtime New York Knicks fan.
In a video released by TMZ, McNutt addressed the singer’s fans, known as Swifties, expressing his gratitude for their passion. She admitted that she was mistaken in assuming that Swift was not a Knicks fan, citing as proof an old photo of the artist wearing an Amar’e Stoudemire t-shirt. This image, which shows Swift alongside former Knicks players Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, serves as a strong indication of her longtime loyalty to the team, contrasting with the momentary public perception and scrutiny surrounding the genuineness of celebrity cheering at sporting events.
“I misspoke,” McNutt continued, explaining his confusion. The lead radio analyst for 880 ESPN New York Knicks argued that because she frequently covers the “celebrity aisle,” she is accustomed to seeing figures like Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet following the team throughout the season.
McNutt justified his misinformation, stating that he had not seen Taylor Swift at Knicks games “neither this year nor last year”, and mentioned the singer’s recent appearance with her fiancé, Travis Kelce, at a Cleveland Cavaliers game the previous month. She noted that Swift did not wear any Knicks fan gear, which made her doubt the artist’s loyalty. Despite the confusion, McNutt gave a nod to “T-Swift”, declaring that both can come together in the team’s orange and blue colors.
Finishing the explanation, the commentator reinforced her apology.
The open mic incident occurred while McNutt was talking to his radio colleague, Tyler Murray, the Knicks’ official announcer. She questioned Murray if the person spotted at the edge of the court was actually Taylor Swift. As they both struggled to confirm their identity, McNutt teased Murray about taking a photo, to which he replied: “It’s for my wife.” The commentator apparently didn’t show much enthusiasm for the star’s arrival at Madison Square Garden.
It was at that moment that the ESPN veteran said: “She’s not a Knicks fan, get out of here, girl.”
Taylor Swift attended Game 4 accompanied by her close friends Este and Alana Haim on Wednesday. During the Knicks’ victory, the singer also had the opportunity to interact with Mariska Hargitay and Kylie Jenner, who were present at the event.