WNBA star Angel Reese recently found herself in the eye of a social media storm following the October 10, 2024, episode of her podcast, “Unapologetically Angel, “where she interviewed Kayla Nicole—the ex-girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.
The podcast touched on the complexities of Nicole’s public life after her high-profile split with Kelce, who is now dating pop icon Taylor Swift. This revelation quickly made Reese and Nicole the targets of the fiercely loyal Swift fans known as “Swifties.”
During the interview, Nicole, 32, shared that while she and Kelce, 35, parted on good terms, the attention surrounding his relationship with Swift has made even casual interactions difficult. “There’s just no room really for us to communicate or acknowledge each other publicly without it being spun into something crazy,” she explained. Since Swift and Kelce’s romance went public in 2023, the scrutiny has only intensified.
Nicole, a sports broadcaster, also spoke about the hurtful effects of online hate, describing it as relentless. “I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and online chaos didn’t impact me, even to this day,” she revealed, reflecting on the constant flow of negative comments questioning her worth and career.
The backlash to the podcast was swift. Reese, who completed her rookie season with the Chicago Sky, responded to the criticism with a bold post on X, writing, “Hating pays too,” accompanied by a nail-painting emoji.
Her response, however, attracted even more anger from Swifties, with some accusing her of leveraging Nicole’s past with Kelce to boost engagement. One fan’s post criticized this approach as unprofessional, suggesting it was a tactic to gain clicks.
Frustrated by the constant online attacks, Nicole shared in the podcast that the intense fan culture surrounding Swift and Kelce’s relationship has been challenging. “I think that there’s something about that level of fame that attracts crazy people,” Nicole remarked, emphasizing that she has done nothing to warrant such backlash.
Numerous fans on social media shared similar views, pressing Nicole to “move on” from Kelce. One Swiftie openly questioned her statement, asking why she would think there was room for conversation, given that he’s now in a relationship, and dismissively questioned her judgment. The tone remained harsh as more comments flowed in, criticizing her for bringing up Kelce.
Despite constant negativity, Nicole remains dedicated to her role as a sports analyst and is determined not to let public scrutiny hinder her career. She resolved to continue discussing the top NFL team, highlighting that covering key players like the leading quarterback and tight end is simply part of her job.
Following her breakup with Kelce in 2022, Nicole has also stepped back from his inner circle, which includes distancing herself from Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. She shared that the most difficult aspect of the split has been losing a partner and a close friend, shifting from daily conversations to severed ties.
Reese, meanwhile, appears unfazed by the criticism and seems to welcome the attention. Both Reese and Nicole navigate public lives in which the challenges posed by intense scrutiny from Swift’s passionate fans are just part of a landscape that remains unpredictable and relentless.