Sports journalist Kayla Nicole recently opened up about the negative comments she says she receives online amid her ex Travis Kelce’s current relationship with singer Taylor Swift.
During a Thursday episode of the “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, hosted by WNBA star Angel Reese, Nicole responded to multiple questions about her past relationship and breakup with the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
When Reese asked Nicole if online negativity from Swift fans has affected her, the fitness entrepreneur said: “I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and just, like, online chaos doesn’t impact me. It does, even to this day.”
“You could go to my most recent post and it will be people debating each other why I am worthless and I’ll never be a talented person and I have no career and I’m a bum,” she continued.
Pressing further, the Chicago Sky player asked Nicole why she thinks she receives such hate, with Reese saying Nicole displayed “grace” while leaving her relationship with Kelce.
“[It has] nothing to do with me,” Nicole said, gesturing to Kelce’s current romance without saying Swift’s name. “I think that there is 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.”
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Kelce and Nicole went public with their relationship in 2017, dating on and off until their split in 2022.
The Chiefs tight end and Swift began dating last year, sparking a media frenzy.
Nicole has previously opened up about receiving online backlash amid Kelce’s latest romance.
In April, she shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, asking people to leave her alone.
“I’m unproblematic. Mind my business. Never respond to the constant vitriol,” she wrote at the time. “Solid as they come & don’t expect a pat on the back for it either. Just know everyone has a breaking point & would love for ‘yall’ (because you know exactly who you are) to leave me alone.”
“Sorry lovely. You’re gorgeous and talented and should be recognized for that,” one person responded at the time. “I’m a Swiftie, but hate that you’re caught up in that. It’s not cool.”
Elsewhere in her interview with Reese, Nicole discussed some of the difficult parts about her breakup with Kelce, such as losing the close relationships she’d built with his teammates and their wives.
“That was like family,” she said.
But Nicole also tried to keep things positive as she reflected on her past romance with the NFL player.
“It was great. He’s a great guy,” she told Reese. “That was a good time in my life.”