Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Seemingly Shades Swifties Ahead of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Release

Kayla Nicole poses for a photo on November 1, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Taylor Swift fans believe Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, was throwing shade at the pop star’s supporters ahead of the April 19 release of The Tortured Poets Department–but it wasn't without cause.

The new studio album is Swift’s 11th. Swifties eagerly anticipating the album have been excitedly counting down the days to its arrival ever since the “Cruel Summer” singer revealed its release date while accepting her record-breaking fourth Album of the Year award at the 2024 Grammys in February.

Swift’s album is slated to arrive three weeks after Beyoncé’s newest album, Cowboy Carter. Nicole, who dated the Kansas City Chiefs tight end on and off for several years before he began dating Swift in 2023, mentioned the latest Beyoncé project while commenting on the volume of recent music releases in a Thursday, April 18 post on X (formerly Twitter).

“There’s just no way I can fully digest all these new albums,” the sports journalist tweeted. “I’m still on Cowboy Carter.”

Several Swifties interpreted the tweet as a dig at the “Anti-Hero” singer. Many people slammed Nicole in their responses to her tweet.

“Taylor doesn't need your streams,” one Swiftie declared as another wrote that “the new albums will do just fine without your streams.”

“Kayla has a right to her opinion on her music taste..but to think she isn't subtly dissing TS and her album is ludicrous,” one X user tweeted. “Could you not have just said how much you like Cowboy Carter.”

“Girl bye... always throwing some sneaky little shade but don't have the guts to just come out and say it,” another X user said.

Related: Travis Kelce's Ex Kayla Nicole's Pointed Message Seems to Be Aimed at Taylor Swift Fans

The “rude” comment trend had others jumping to Nicole’s defense.

“Can yall stop being mean this isn’t even Taylor shade,” one person tweeted as another agreed, writing, “guys this isn’t shade lmao, it’s just saying that we’re being fed consistently.”

Another X user asked why people were “being so rude in the replies like this doesn’t read as shady at all.”

Less than two hours after Nicole posted her original tweet, she tweeted what appeared to be a response to the Swifties’ criticisms.

“I’m unproblematic,” her tweet began. “Mind my business. Never respond to the constant vitriol. 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.”

Several people voiced support for Nicole’s second tweet. One person who identified as both a Swiftie and “a big fan of yours” said they "feel like i need to apologize on their behalf for how disgusting they are to you,” adding, “you don’t deserve it at all and please know there are some of us who also love and respect you and wish they would just leave you alone.”

“Sending you so much love,” another person tweeted. "You are not their punching bag. People are so cruel but guess what, that’s a reflection of them, not you!”

“Truly toxic fan base,” one X user said. "The level to which they harass the ex’s is off-kilter. You deserve none of it! Wishing much happiness and love for the future.”

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