Before Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce was in a relationship with social media personality Kayla Nicole, who was once highly active on platforms like X/Twitter.
However, her online presence significantly dwindled after their intermittent relationship ended in 2022, and even more, so after news surfaced of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end dating the multi-platinum singer in 2023.
During an episode of the “Behind the Likes” podcast with hosts Winter Blanco and Chy Fontenette, Nicole opened up about her decision to withdraw from social media due to overwhelming backlash from fans.
“I turned off my comments recently,” she shared at the 7:17 mark. “You can’t DM me anymore, because people just talk crazy, and I’ve had enough. I’m exhausted, I’m tired. It’s a new year and to be honest, it’s the same for me. So for it to be a new me, I need to do some new things.”
The timeline of Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole’s on-and-off relationship.
In 2017, Travis Kelce was on the rise as one of football’s top tight ends, but his personal life faced challenges.
After his split with Catching Kelce winner Maya Benberry five months prior, Kelce met Kayla Nicole. Their relationship began when they were spotted together at the wedding of then-Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, and they frequently attended events as a couple.
Their dynamic shifted in August 2020 when they parted ways amid rumors of infidelity. However, just three months later, Kelce, now a Super Bowl champion, revealed to WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike that they had reconciled:
“So obviously we’ve got the fam. Mom, dad, brother Jason — big grizzly guy. Then my girlfriend Kayla. Kayla is definitely on the list. Always got to do it big for Kayla… She’s the best. She’s the absolute best,” he expressed (via New York Post).
Their renewed relationship lasted about a month and a half before ending in May 2022. Sources suggested to Media Takeout that Nicole grew weary of carrying the financial weight while Kelce, a more prominent figure, earned millions:
“Travis is very cheap. In the beginning, he tried to make Kayla ‘prove’ that she wasn’t with him for the money, so she had to pay half of everything. Half of every date, every trip, everything.” (via Just Jared).
Kelce remained single throughout the 2022 season, during which he secured his second Super Bowl victory. He then began dating Taylor Swift during the 2023 season.
