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NBA Broadcast Mysteriously Omits Taylor Swift's Name
24 May
Summary
- Broadcasters failed to name Taylor Swift during her NBA playoff appearance.
- Swift's recent album achieved modern-era weekly record sales.
- Kelce cheered for his hometown Cavaliers in the NBA finals.
Taylor Swift attended Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, May 23, 2026, alongside her fiancé, Travis Kelce. The broadcast commentary from Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson referred to Swift only as Kelce's fiancée or girlfriend, failing to mention her name. Analyst Tim Legler even appeared unaware of their engagement, asking who was getting married.
This omission sparked online backlash, particularly given Swift's significant commercial success. Her album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' released in October 2025, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 4 million equivalent album units, a modern-era weekly record. It spent 12 weeks at No. 1 and topped the 2025 year-end chart.
The NBA broadcast's decision to not name Swift, one of the world's most recognizable figures, drew criticism. This incident echoes past gaffes, such as Tony Romo calling her 'Kelce's wife' in December 2023. The Cleveland Cavaliers had also issued a light-hearted warning about playoff T-shirt attire, which Swift and Kelce did not appear to follow.
Kelce, a native of Westlake, Ohio, was present to support his hometown Cavaliers. The Knicks led the series 2-0 going into Game 3. Kelce was seen engaging with the crowd, including a beer chug in the fourth quarter.
