Selena Gomez fiercely denied taking a swipe at her close pal Taylor Swift over Wednesday night’s historic NBA Finals game.
Swift, 36, was one of the parade of celebrities in attendance at Madison Square Garden when the New York Knicks sensationally defeated the San Antonio Spurs.
She and other high profile Knicks fans like Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet were seen erupting with joy over their team’s triumph.
Meanwhile Gomez, a lifelong Spurs fan who hails from Texas, raised an uproar online by posting: ‘so funny how some are all the sudden fans though lol.’
Even though Swift has been spotted sporting Knicks gear at games for years, some fans couldn’t resist reading Gomez’s playful jab as a subtle dig at her pal.
The furor reached such a fever pitch that the next day, Gomez shared that she ‘woke up and was sent so many texts,’ prompting her an issue a public response.
Selena Gomez fiercely denied taking a swipe at her close pal Taylor Swift over Wednesday night’s historic NBA Finals game; the pair pictured in 2023
Swift, 36, was one of the parade of celebrities in attendance at Madison Square Garden when the New York Knicks sensationally defeated the San Antonio Spurs
‘I would never insult my friends nor was it an insult. The comment was a reaction to the first slide on the page,’ she wrote on her Insta Stories.
‘Second I bet my friends on the game. The friends in the text chain I posted. 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’s original Instagram comment in the wake of the game, which set off a controversy online, read: ‘Mad respect for the game!! Congrats to the peeps that represent! Whaat a comeback,’ followed by the cheeky, ‘so funny how some are all the sudden fans though lol.’
The post quickly set Twitter and Instagram alight, with fans weighing in on Gomez’s playful commentary.
One reposted the now-deleted message, captioning it: ‘Selena Gomez shades celebrities who attended the Knicks game like Taylor Swift, Hailey Bieber, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Tate Mcrae.’
Another chimed in: ‘not her shading her best friend too..’ while a third wrote, ‘Lmfao if this is not a shade towards anyone, why she deleted.’
Some fans didn’t hold back, with one going hard: ‘selena, please! the desperation for attention is showing. if u’re jealous, just join the trend instead of whining about it.’
Another added: ‘She’s so weird why is she shading her best friend for enjoying a sports game literal PSYCHO.’
Swift, rumored to be tying the knot at the venue next month , appeared to channel her inner superfan, cheering loudly alongside friends Alana and Este Haim in matching Knicks tees
But it was Gomez, a proud Texas native and Spurs supporter, who stirred the pot with her online commentary: ‘Mad respect for the game!! Congrats to the peeps that represent! Whaat a comeback,’ followed by the cheeky, ‘so funny how some are all the sudden fans though lol’
Even though Swift has been spotted sporting Knicks gear at games for years, some fans couldn’t resist reading Gomez’s playful jab as a subtle dig at her pal
Yet plenty of followers rushed to her defense, arguing she was referencing her own family, not shading the stars at the game.
One fan explained: ‘She was talking about her family supporting the SPURS, not those who supporting to the Knicks. Y’all just make sh** up.’
Another wrote: ‘people throwing tantrums here saying she’s shading hailey, kylie and taylor when she’s just messing around with her friends and family (last picture) who are from texas supporting the knicks.’
Others echoed the sentiment, including: ‘She was talking about her family,’ and ‘She was joking because her family (from TEXAS) and friends rooted for another team when she was a lone Spurs fan, but people already managed to write a whole fanfiction in their heads. Do people even have friends who root for other teams?…’
Finally, one fan reminded followers: ‘She never mentioned celebrities you guys are just making assumptions.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Gomez’s representatives for comment.
Despite the online frenzy, Gomez and Swift have long been the picture of friendship.
The pair clicked instantly when Gomez was 15 and Swift 18, both navigating the dating world of the Jonas brothers – Nick and Joe – and later joking that helping each other through those relationships was the best part of the experience.
Swift has flown across the country to support Gomez during personal crises, while Gomez has affectionately called Swift her ‘big sister’ and her only true friend in the entertainment industry.
The singers have consistently celebrated each other’s successes, with Gomez even confirming that Swift wrote the track Dorothea as a nod to their enduring bond.
It appears Gomez could well be on the guest list for Swift’s upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce, though details surrounding the highly anticipated ceremony remain tightly under wraps.
Despite the online frenzy, Gomez and Swift have long been the picture of friendship; Above, in 2012
An insider exclusively told the Daily Mail that the couple are planning to marry at Madison Square Garden, having decided to ‘embrace the spectacle’ of a large-scale celebration.
The iconic Manhattan venue – best known for hosting major concerts and sporting events – can accommodate up to 22,000 guests, though it remains unclear how many will ultimately be invited.
Last month, another source told the Daily Mail that the pair were considering a large ‘museum’ or ‘arena-like venue’ in New York City for their nuptials.
While the engaged couple have already sent out save-the-date notices, they have yet to confirm the exact location, despite Swift reportedly sharing hints with close friends.
Insiders also claimed that guests will only learn the final venue on the morning of July 3.
Swift and Kelce first went public with their relationship in 2023 and announced their engagement in August last year, sharing the news in a joint Instagram post showing Kelce down on one knee in a garden.
Swift later revealed her engagement ring in the post, captioned: ‘Your English teacher and gym teacher are getting married.’