Travis Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole deletes Twitter after Taylor Swift ‘shade’ sparks backlash

Kayla Nicole, former girlfriend of NFL star Travis Kelce and a prominent sports presenter and influencer, has deactivated her X account following the resurfacing of offensive tweets from over a decade ago. The posts contained racist and homophobic remarks that sparked widespread outrage online.

This incident was exacerbated by her recent cryptic posts perceived as taking aim at Taylor Swift’s relationship with Kelce. As the fallout continues, industry insiders suggest it highlights the increasing scrutiny on influencers’ digital pasts.

Travis Kelce’s former girlfriend, sports presenter and influencer Kayla Nicole, has officially vanished from X (formerly Twitter) — and the internet is in full investigation mode. Nicole reportedly deactivated her account after a string of old tweets resurfaced, some allegedly containing racist, homophobic, and colourist remarks, triggering widespread outrage online.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. The controversy unfolded mere days after Nicole appeared to throw subtle shade at Taylor Swift, who is currently dating her ex, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. Within hours of her cryptic social media posts, Swifties went full detective mode, unearthing tweets from over a decade ago that painted Nicole in an unflattering light.

According to online reports, the now-deleted posts allegedly featured offensive remarks, including one that referenced “that one obnoxiously loud black girl” — a phrase that has since sparked condemnation across platforms. While Nicole did not directly address the controversy, she posted a brief statement on another platform, writing: “I’m taking some time to step away.”

Industry insiders say Nicole’s Hollywood-adjacent presence and media visibility made the backlash swift and severe. Some social media users called her old remarks a “pattern of bigotry,” while others suggested the outrage had been amplified by Swift’s loyal fanbase, who allegedly combed through her old tweets following her Halloween post.

Nicole, who dated Kelce on and off for five years before their split in 2022, appeared to ignite the latest drama with her Halloween look inspired by R&B icon Toni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough music video. The timing led many fans to interpret the costume as a pointed jab at Kelce and Swift’s relationship — especially after speculation that Taylor’s new song Opalite from The Life of a Showgirl album references Nicole. The lyric, “You were in it for real / She was in her phone / And you were just a pose,” has been widely read as a nod to Nicole’s habit of frequently sharing posts about her then-boyfriend.

This isn’t the first time Nicole has made headlines with a Halloween statement. She previously dressed as Teyana Taylor following her breakup with Iman Shumpert, a move that also sparked chatter online after she discussed it on Angel Reese’s podcast, prompting a sharp response from the One Battle After Another actress.