“I would never insult my friends, nor was it an insult,” Gomez wrote in an Instagram Story posted Thursday.

Selena Gomez responds to speculation she shaded Taylor Swift over Knicks game attendance

"I would never insult my friends, nor was it an insult," Gomez wrote in an Instagram Story posted Thursday.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Popsugar.

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June 12, 2026 12:40 p.m. ET

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Selena Gomez at 2025 Emmy Awards; Taylor Swift at Game 4 on June 10. Credit:

Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage; Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

- Selena Gomez cleared the air Thursday after an Instagram comment sparked speculation that she was shading longtime friend Taylor Swift over a basketball game.

- Fans speculated that Gomez — a known San Antonio Spurs fan — was shading Swift for cheering on the New York Knicks at Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

- "I would never insult my friends nor was it an insult," Gomez wrote on Instagram. "The comment was a reaction to the first slide on the page."

Selena Gomez is speaking out after a recent Instagram Story sparked speculation that she was shading longtime friend Taylor Swift over a basketball game.

The claims began after the former Disney Channel star commented under a post MTV shared on Instagram featuring images of Swift and actress Mariska Hargitay celebrating the New York Knicks' win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday.

Gomez commented "lol," underneath the post showing Swift with her arm around Hargitay and surrounded by other Knicks fans after the win.

The game saw the Knicks recover from a nearly 30-point deficit to defeat the Spurs 107-106 for a 3-1 lead going into Game 5. Swift, along with friends Este and Alana Haim of the band Haim, were decked out in punny blue shirts with orange lettering, which read "Steve Knicks," "Knickleback," and "Knickole Kidman."

When fans began claiming that Gomez — a Spurs fan — was shading Swift for cheering on the Knicks at the game, the singer posted in an Instagram Story that her comment had been misinterpreted.

"Woke up and was sent so many texts," Gomez wrote. "I would never insult my friends nor was it an insult. The comment was a reaction to the first slide on the page."

Selena Gomez's Instagram Story.

Selena Gomez/Instagram

"Second I bet my friends on the game. The friends in the text chain I posted," she continued. "I lost but was poking at my opponents, my friends. Believe it or not I do have other friends in my life. But quickly forget that most assume otherwise. also.. It's a basketball game."

Gomez had previously shared an Instagram Story congratulating the Knicks for their victory over the Spurs after making a historic comeback from 29 points down in the third quarter. The win marked the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.

"Mad respect for the game!! Congrats to the peeps that represent! What a come back," Gomez wrote over a screenshot of an NBA article, per *US Weekly*. "So funny how some are all the sudden fans though lol," she added.

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Swift's presence at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday drew a lot of attention for more than just her punny shirts.

Many have speculated that her attendance served the dual purpose of allowing the singer to scout her wedding venue location. According to reports, Travis Kelce and Swift will officially become husband and wife at the Midtown Manhattan arena over the July 3 weekend, nearly a year after they got engaged.

Swift and Kelce reportedly paid $3 million to rent the 820,000-square-foot Madison Square Garden for three days — one to set up, one for the nuptials, and one to strike everything, according to *TMZ*. The next scheduled event at the arena is a Bon Jovi concert on July 7.

The couple's guest list reportedly exceeds 1,000 people, many of whom will likely be the couple's famous friends, including the Haim sisters.

Alana Haim, Taylor Swift, and Este Haim at Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty

Wednesday night's game was a huge one for Knicks fans. New York is now up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

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Other Knicks fans in attendance for Wednesday's game included Timothée Chalamet, Adam Sandler, Steve Schirripa, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Edie Falco, Jimmy Fallon, Fat Joe, Larry David, Michael J. Fox, and Jerry Seinfeld.

The Spurs are set to host the Knicks in San Antonio on Saturday night for Game 5.

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