- Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend is speaking out
- She talks about the "embarrassment" that's come her way
- People online have bullied her
Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, has broken her silence amid the attention she’s received in light of the NFL player’s budding romance with Taylor Swift. The sports broadcaster took to Instagram on Monday, October 9, with a powerful open letter addressed to "Black girl." Though Kayla, 31, never named Travis or Taylor, nor did she directly mention her former relationship with the NFL star, but she spoke about what it’s like to receive "backlash" as a Black woman.
"It's always been really important for me to use my platform not to create division, but to elevate and unite women. Black women specifically," Kayla said in her opening statement. "So I prepared a letter and would like to share it with you today."
She has had enough
The sportscaster and fitness influencer shared an inspirational message to "elevate and unite women, Black women specifically" amid her ex Travis Kelce's rumored romance with Taylor Swift. She began her letter by saying, "They may call you a traitor for falling in love. You’ll hope the ones closest will protect you but quickly realize people don’t protect what they don’t value. They'll say you're too much, too provocative, too boisterous, too outspoken and in the same breath, tell you that you're not enough, not successful enough, not wholesome enough, maybe not even intelligent enough. They'll say you deserve the backlash and embarrassment because of your blackness. You should have known better. They'll even try to tie your value to your net worth."
After expressing value in "resilience" and "willingness to forgive," she added it's important to protect and stand up for what means the most, even when it feels like others won't do the same. Kayla went on to plead with "Black girl" to remember that "value lies within your heart” and "the way you love." She also encouraged her listeners to not "engage" with those who try to devalue them.
"You do not have to respond. Because there is power in your silence," she said. Kayla added that she, too, has had to stop herself from giving in to "this demoralizing and antiquated narrative."
"When the world gets dark and times get hard, when you feel like your back is against the wall and your hands are tied like nobody knows or understands what it takes to be, you remember that you are a part of something way bigger," Kayla concluded. "I want you to remember that you are loved, you are valued, you are allowed to take up space. You deserve protection and your feelings, they matter too, solely because you’re a Black girl."
Kayla is setting a better example
Kayla received a new sense of social media attention when Travis sparked dating rumors with Taylor in September. The pop star created a buzz when she was spotted at two Kansas City Chiefs games to cheer Travis on. As the relationship began to unfold, many fans turned to look at Travis’ exes, which include Kayla and a model named Maya Benberry. After receiving backlash for her comments, Maya took to her Instagram Stories a few days later with clarifications.
"I don’t hate Taylor nor am I bitter," she said. "I got asked about my relationship and I spoke about it because I can. It’s my life and I can speak on it or about it whenever I please. Everything I said now about my experience, I said then after we broke up. So my narrative hasn’t changed nor will it."
Also interesting:
All press is good press
Will it last?
Quite a list
Kayla started dating Travis, 34, in 2017 after the two connected on social media. "I didn't just go through every single pic and just start liking it immediately," the athlete recalled the early days of their relationship in an interview with 'E! News' last year. "It was over the course of a month's span, just following her and liking the pictures that she was posting and watching all of her stories when stories had first started coming out."
Eventually, according to Travis, Kayla "gave in" and "jumped in my DMs and the rest is history." Their relationship fizzled out after five years together, with Travis confirming that he was "in the free market" regarding his love live this January.
Kelce put the ball in Taylor's court this summer, when he revealed that he had tried to give the pop star a friendship bracelet with his number on it during one of her Eras Tour concerts. And it seems she did not shake off his attempt to shoot his shot. Then in late September, Taylor, 33, was spotted cheering on Travis at one of his football game, sparking romance rumors and online buzz amongst both Swifties and the NFL community.
When will this whirlwind end for them?
