Ben Stiller chose the 2026 Met Gala over the Knicks’ playoff opener on Monday, but made it known outside the venue that his mind was still on the court with his favorite basketball team
18:59 ET, 04 May 2026Updated 19:09 ET, 04 May 2026
Ben Stiller gave a subtle nod to the New York Knicks at the 2026 Met Gala
Ben Stiller may have traded Madison Square Garden for the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, but the actor made sure no one forgot where his heart and mind was really at.
The Hollywood actor posed up a storm at the annual event alongside his wife Christine Taylor, and looked suave in a navy blue and black suit which he paired with a crisp white shirt and shiny shoes.
Paying a subtle tribute to the Knicks, Stiller completed his look with a bright orange tie. The official colors of the New York Knicks are blue, orange, white, silver, and black, so Stiller’s wife was even paying tribute with her stunning blue strapless dress. It comes as British singer arrived at the Met Gala wearing a 52-pound gown.
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Earlier on in the evening as Stiller made his way to his limo ahead of the Met Gala, an Access Hollywood reporter shouted at the 60-year-old Zoolander actor, seemingly questioning why he was not at the Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks game.
The reporter yelled, “Let’s go, Knicks!” Stiller’s response was immediate and genuine, responding, “Alright, yeah, I wish I were there.”
Stiller’s comment came at an unusual moment for sports and fashion fans, as the Knicks’ Eastern Conference semifinal opener against the Philadelphia 76ers kicked off Monday at 8 p.m. at Madison Square Garden, around the same time fashion’s biggest event drew Hollywood A-listers to the Metropolitan Museum.
The actor wore an orange tie while his wife Christine Taylor looked stunning in a blue dress
For Stiller, the scheduling conflict was particularly difficult, as the actor is one of the most well-known celebrity supporters of the Knicks and has attended courtside throughout the team’s playoff.
Last week, Stiller was quick to defend his loyalty to the team after a user on X questioned his allegiance to the Knicks.
“Hi. My fandom didn’t start when Twitter was invented. Tweets don’t equal fandom. Ask Spike [Lee]. I’ve been a fan since 73. Lived in LA 92-2012,” he wrote.
He then followed up with a list of former players to back up his case.
The actor even admitted that he would rather be at the basketball game(Image: Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
“My posting is not indicative of my commitment to the team. Ask Ron Baker. Or Lou Amundsen. Or Henry Bibby or Mike Glenn. Or Bernard King or Louis Orr or Spencer Haywood… (I don’t actually know them personally but I love the Knicks).”
Stiller has not been the only Knicks celebrity fan to get caught between the two events. Timothée Chalamet skipped last year’s Met Gala to watch New York’s playoff game, posting a video of himself watching on an iPad. He later opened up about the the decision on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast.
“I had to be locked in, man,” Chalamet said.
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