Sports journalist Kayla Nicole and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce were in an on again, off again relationship between 2017 and 2022. After the former couple parted ways, Kelce, 35, and pop sensation Taylor Swift became romantically involved, and their relationship has since been highly publicized.
Despite their separation, Nicole, 33, and Kelce’s past romance occasionally pops up in the news and social media, with the former being tagged as the NFL star’s ex. But it appears Nicole is now having none of that as she recently fired back at critics telling her to “move on,” Page Six reported.
“People will always say, ‘Get over it,’ which is so interesting. And to them I’d say, ‘You too,’” she said during Tuesday’s episode of the Second Wind Podcast. Despite not calling out Kelce by his name, Nicole stated that she had gained a “super power” through her “authenticity” and “transparency” in touching on her breakup.
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“Life handed me lemons and I made a lemon martini out of it and that upsets people,” she said. Nicole also said her past romance was not the genesis of her life.
“It’s a chapter in my story and in a lot of ways I think it was a catalyst to a lot of great change and motivation and self-help in my life,” she explained. “I started going to therapy because of what I went through, and I think that drastically changed the way I navigated the world,” Nicole added.
“I’m honestly thankful for every obstacle I’ve gone through in my life. It has made me who I am. And if you take away all the hurtful or the sad moments in my life, I wouldn’t be Kayla.”
Nicole also reflected on being part of Season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, saying that she was “excited to do something on my own that could not be attached to anyone I have dated in my life.”
“Any success that I’ve had on this very big platform … you can’t take that away from me. What I did on that show was all me. I don’t care who I’ve dated in my life,” she stated. “It has nothing to do with that, even though they try to scurry that into the narrative,” Nicole said in reference to when she was filmed touching on the “overwhelming” experience of “going through a public breakup.”
“They tried to put that into the show,” she said. “It had nothing to do with that … ’cause once again, everyone’s like, ‘Oh my God, girl, move on.’ OK, fine, this was filmed a year ago.”
Nicole also said she couldn’t wait for the day the media will cease tagging her as “so-and-so’s ex.”
