Karl-Anthony Towns, the New York Knicks’ new star NBA player, is in the news. This time, it is for reasons that extend beyond his substantial talent on the hardwood. Sadly, Town has become the focus of a national campaign of derision on social media. This condemnation came after similar public shaming of fellow athlete Dwight Howard for his queer desires and expressions. Currently in a relationship with Jordyn Woods, Towns’s style and demeanor have drawn both admiration and criticism in equal measure.
Towns has had a historic career thus far on the court, averaging 24.7 points per game and 13.5 rebounds per game. Now, he’s taken the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years. His historic performances of back-to-back 40-point performances and a playoff triple-double have elevated him to stardom as a player. Throughout his professional accomplishments, conversation around the person has gone back to identity and expression.
The digital back-and-forth town halls on Towns have become especially incendiary over the 2025 post-season run. Critics derisively named him “Zesty KAT,” indicating their clinical dislike of his flamboyance and national exuberance. This mockery frequently relies on harmful cissexist stereotypes centered around identities that fall outside of the traditional binary. Yet, social media increases the level of outrage and attention. To do so while playing in New York, the world’s largest media market, only adds to the pressure.
Towns’s flamboyant style and soft-spoken demeanor, of course, have been fodder for a media frenzy, with critics laughing at Towns for his overt emotional expressiveness. A fleeting bit of a postgame interview went viral, when he said “for sure,” and that seemed to capture this derision perfectly. His critics have created a firestorm of memes and social media posts that accuse him of being unmasculine. This backlash is rooted in the stark societal expectations of how people should express gender. When men don’t adhere to macho standards, they get judged and shamed for it.
This scrutiny is reminiscent of how other celebrities, such as Tyler, the Creator, Russell Westbrook, and Odell Beckham Jr., have been queer-coded and mocked online. Towns’s rising prominence is indicative of a growing phenomenon in the sports and entertainment industry. People are under more public attack than ever before for who they are.
As a Dominican-American athlete, Towns’s expression is often linked to cultural stereotypes. His emotionality is too often misinterpreted as flamboyant and dangerously tied to his lineage. The prevailing media narrative often attacks the documentary for promoting stoicism among male athletes. This cultural context indeed plays a large role in how his receiving career is viewed and evaluated by both fans and analysts of the game.
Towns’s high-profile relationship with model Jordyn Woods has received its share of criticism. Naturally, some folks are doubting the legitimacy of their relationship, in light of his public displays of joy and love for her. This public relation became an even deeper point of interest for discussion about his identity.
“Why are you so damn gay?” – The writer’s stepmother
These comments illustrate a disturbing reality. Too many people think they are entitled to interrogate someone else’s identity and behavior out of their own narrow expectations of what a sexuality or gender expression should look like. The stories we tell about Towns reflect a larger cultural tendency to police the self-expression of queer people.
Although he gets made fun of, most people—including his teammates—consider Towns’s honesty and transparency as a welcome reflection of his true self. His ability to showcase vulnerability resonates with numerous fans, particularly those within the queer community who may feel similar pressures to conform. Most outside observers consider Towns to be the one who keeps the beat. Perhaps most of all, he supports people whose capacity to communicate has been thrown into disarray.
Conversations surrounding Karl-Anthony Towns open up important discussions regarding masculinity, vulnerability, and self-identity. Consider their use of social media to shape public perception on the issue. As he moves up the field and keeps on getting better, pressure to perform well and still be a man off the field will naturally amp up. Yet, amid this scrutiny, Towns remains a figure of resilience as he navigates both his professional responsibilities and personal identity.