Months after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, Kelce’s ex, Kayla Nicole, opened up about her previous relationship, which, to many fans, hints at Kelce. Though Nicole didn’t bring the tight end’s name up herself, fans believe she has not “moved on” from Kelce.
In the past few weeks, the sports journalist and host has been making headlines — first, for a Super Bowl commercial that many viewers took as a wink at her famous ex, and now in a TikTok Live where she gave a candid answer about why her last relationship ended. As a result, fans and critics rushed to connect the dots and debate whether people need to stop asking her about Kelce altogether — especially now that he is engaged to Swift.
Travis Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole says her last love was 'right person, wrong time'
Yikes: Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole has gone viral for saying her relationship with Travis ended because it was the “right person, wrong time,” implying she still has a chance with him.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 20, 2026
Kelce is marrying Taylor Swift this summer...
😵💫😵💫😵💫 pic.twitter.com/m3w1kwXuVa
During a TikTok Live conversation with Love Island star Ace Greene on Thursday, Kayla Nicole seemingly hinted at her ex, Travis Kelce. When Greene asked when her last relationship was, she said, “Probably, like, three years ago now. It’s been a long time,” which the internet immediately thought was a reference to Kelce.
Greene followed up by asking why it did not work out. Without making it dramatic, Nicole simply responded with, “Who knows? Could be compatibility issues,” adding that her last partner was the “right person, wrong time.” Notably, Nicole and Kelce dated on and off for years and reportedly split for good in May 2022.
Moreover, Nicole went on to comment on modern dating, which hit home for many viewers. She said, “It’s kinda sad because I feel like dating in 2026 is just hard all the way around. I feel like the bar is in hell,” adding that her priorities now lie with “having a job, that’s at the top of the list.”
Did Nicole shade Taylor Swift?
Before the TikTok Live clip went viral, the Super Bowl weekend had already put her in the spotlight. She appeared in a Sleeper ad during the 2026 Super Bowl, alongside Tiffany Haddish, Ben Simmons, Ace Greene, and Offset, where Haddish opens with, “Have you or someone you know been injured emotionally in a high-profile relationship? It’s very common.” Simmons then asks, “Are your exes subbing you in commercials?”
Nicole enters later with a sharp jab, saying, “Don’t get me started on these two,” and adds, “Simmons & Haddish promised me that they could put an end to this whole ‘ex-girlfriend’ fiasco quickly,” before the joke escalates into Simmons pushing back and Nicole trying different words. But the line that grabbed most attention was Simmons insisting, “I said swiftly, why is that so hard to remember?” Several viewers immediately noted the Swift reference, speculating that Nicole was shading the pop singer.
The internet’s reaction to Nicole’s comment
Online, some people argued, “How do we know whether she’s even talking about Travis?” while someone else noted, “She literally never mentioned his name." But still, plenty of commenters sounded tired of the whole topic. One advised Nicole, “It’s time to move on,” while another user admitted, “I kind of feel bad for Kayla.”
Where things stand now
Kayla Nicole’s recent comments don’t confirm she meant her ex, Travis Kelce. However, it does show that she has been out of a serious relationship for a while and doesn’t love what dating looks like right now.
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