Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift continues to capture global attention. Even when Swift isn’t present at Arrowhead Stadium cheering on the Chiefs, the media closely follows the couple, particularly during her international “Eras” concert tour.
While their high-profile romance unfolds, Kelce’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship for five years, has tried to stay out of the spotlight. Despite their official breakup in 2022, the founder of Tribe Therepe still faces hateful messages from Swift’s fanbase.
During an interview on Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese’s podcast, Unapologetically Angel, Nicole opened up about the challenges she’s faced since Kelce began dating Swift. “I’d be lying if I said that level of hate and online chaos doesn’t affect me. It does, even now,” she admitted.
Nicole added, “You can look at my most recent posts and see people debating why I’m worthless or why I’ll never be talented,” noting that this ongoing harassment has been difficult to ignore.
When asked why this is happening given the amicable nature of their breakup, she said, “I think that level of fame attracts a certain kind of crazy. It’s unfortunate because I’ve never done anything to deserve that kind of backlash.”
Maintaining Distance Due to Swift’s Fame
As a well-established sports broadcaster, Nicole sometimes discusses Kelce and the Chiefs. While some criticized her for mentioning Kelce’s “slow start” to the season during an appearance on I Am Athlete Daily, Nicole shrugged it off.
“It’s the best team in the NFL with the best quarterback and the best tight end. Of course, I’m going to talk about them,” she said. “People will just have to get over it.”
While their paths occasionally cross, Nicole and Kelce remain distant. “We’ve seen each other in public, but we both understand the nature of his new situation. There’s no space for us to interact publicly without it becoming a spectacle, so we just keep it moving,” she explained.
Shutting Down Breakup Rumors
Following their split, rumors surfaced that Kelce ended the relationship because he made Nicole split the bills. She laughed off the claim, saying, “Do I look like someone who would go 50/50 on bills? That was absurd, and he even addressed it. It was never an issue in our relationship, but somehow it became a rumor online.”
Reese, a fan of Kelce and Nicole’s past relationship, couldn’t resist commenting. Nicole responded, “He’s a great guy, and it was a good time in my life.”
Though she’s not opposed to reality TV, Nicole made it clear she has no interest in joining a Real Housewives series. “That was a small chapter of my life,” she said, emphasizing she has no desire to date another athlete. She also dismissed the idea that potential partners might be intimidated by her past with Kelce.
“He wasn’t all that. It was fine. But if you’re intimidated by any part of me, you’re not my type,” she told Reese.
