Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Reacts to Hate She’s Received Amid His Romance With Taylor Swift

Over a year after Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift went public with their relationship, Kayla Nicole, who previously dated the Kansas City Chiefs player, admitted she still receives hate online.

Kayla Nicole is ready to let the past go.

The sports journalist—who dated Travis Kelce on-and-off between 2017 and 2022—recently detailed what it’s like making an enemy of some Taylor Swift fans, purely from being Travis’ ex.

“I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and just online chaos doesn’t impact me,” she told WNBA player Angel Reese during the Oct. 10 episode of Unapologetically Angel podcast. “It does. Even to this day.”

And while Kayla agreed with Angel that she and Travis broke up on good terms, she noted that her social media is still filled with unsolicited hate comments.

“You could go to my most recent post and it’ll be people debating why I’m worthless and how I’ll never be a talented person,” she added. “And I have no career and I’m a mom.”

But over a year into Taylor and Travis’ public relationship, Kayla has made her peace with the matter.

“It has nothing to do with me,” she continued. “I think there’s something about that level of fame that attracts crazy people. And it’s unfortunate because I’ve never done anything to warrant that kind of backlash.”

This isn’t the first time Kayla has addressed the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and the Eras Tour performer’s relationship. In fact, she recently told off haters point blank.

“I’m unproblematic—mind my business,” Kayla wrote in an April 2024 X, formerly Twitter, post. “Never respond to the constant vitriol. Solid as they come & don’t expect a pat on the back for it either.”

She continued, “Just know everyone has a breaking point & would love for “yall” (because you know exactly who you are) to leave me alone.”

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The influencer has even done her best to separate herself from the hysteria of Taylor and Travis’ relationship—unfollowing Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes on social media shortly after the aforementioned couple went public, and Brittany became swift friends with Taylor.

“The reality is I know these people in real life,” Kayla Nicole told People in 2023. “And so, in real life, I’ve communicated to these people why I’ve had to publicly make the decisions that I made.”

Kayla added that while there is “love” for Patrick, Brittany and Travis—she publicly separated herself out of self-preservation.

“Things are happening so quickly and so publicly,” she explained. “I have to protect myself. That’s really all that is.”

Indeed, Taylor and Travis’ romance has been a whirlwind for everyone. Keep reading for a full look back.

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July 2023: So, Make the Friendship Bracelets

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love story began in July 2023, when the singer’s Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

As a huge Swiftie, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught the show with hopes of giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he failed to complete the pass due to her pre-show rituals.

“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Travis shared on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast. “So, I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.”

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Summer 2023: This Is Him Trying

After publicly recounting his fumble—a move Taylor would later describe as “metal as hell”—Travis decided to shoot his shot and invite the Grammy winner to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.

“I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court,” he shared on The Pat McAfee Show. “I told her, you know, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit.’ So, we’ll see what happens in the near future.”