Charles Barkley calls out Sydney Sweeney after

Charles Barkley did not maintain again when commenting on Sydney Sweeney’s presence at Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

During Game 4 in New York, which noticed the Knicks mount a historic comeback to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, quite a few A-list celebrities confirmed as much as witness the team transfer within one win of its first NBA championship in more than 50 years.

Taylor Swift was among those seated in superstar row, arriving at the area together with her entourage sporting a customized Knicks shirt. The pop icon’s look at Madison Square Garden generated buzz across sports activities and media circles, with some questioning her motivation for attending. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has reacted to the Knicks successful the NBA Championship days after followers booed him.

After Game 5 closed the NBA Finals, a number of celebrities, including Sweeney, had been seen at Frost Bank Center, prompting the outspoken basketball legend to weigh in on the Hollywood actress’s determination to point out up in San Antonio.

“Sydney Sweeney is here? Everybody is a New York Knick fan now. Come on, man,” Barkley remarked during the pregame Inside the NBA phase on ESPN. The broadcast instantly minimize to footage of Sweeney in the crowd sporting a Jalen Brunson shirt as she awaited tipoff for Game 5.

Barkley’s remarks comply with comparable skepticism from ESPN’s Monica McNutt, who questioned Swift’s attendance at Game 4 after she was also noticed at a Cleveland Cavaliers versus Knicks matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals. Notably, Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, is a Cavaliers supporter, having been raised in that area.

Upon recognizing Swift in New York, McNutt called the 36-year-old’s allegiance to the team into query. “Is that Taylor Swift down there?” McNutt, 36, requested her broadcast companion, Knicks radio voice Tyler Murray.

Murray tried to {photograph} Swift, explaining, “It’s for my wife.” This drew a dismissive retort from McNutt, who fired again: “She’s not a Knicks fan, get out of here, girl.”

Shortly after her remarks, followers flooded social media to point out that Swift is, in fact, a Knicks supporter, together with her loyalty stretching again to 2014, when she cast a reference to the team after spending time with former Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire at the Met Gala.

Speaking to TMZ, McNutt stood her floor while providing context for her unique remarks. “Swifties, I appreciate your passion. I said what I said,” she started. “And here’s the deal, if I’m wrong – I am wrong, apparently – because she’s got an OG Amar’e Stoudemire jersey. … I misspoke. I did not know, but here’s the deal.

“Context: I actually just did a bit on superstar row. I’ve been with the group for 5 years. I do know these of us. Ben Stiller.

“His wife, Christine (Taylor). Spike Lee. All of them. Fat Joe. I had not seen her here this year or last year, and we just saw her in Cleveland with her fiancé (Travis Kelce).

“Obviously, Travis helps the Cavs. She did not have any Knicks paraphernalia, so I didn’t know of her Knicks loyalty. But shoutout, T-Swift. We might be united in orange and blue, like, it is high-quality.”