Kayla Nicole is once again trending—and not everyone is cheering her on. The influencer and sports journalist, who previously dated Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, is facing fresh backlash after fans noticed she “liked” an Instagram post praising Kelce and his brother Jason for their recent charitable donation.
What seemed like a harmless double-tap quickly snowballed into controversy. The post, shared by Bleacher Report, highlighted the Kelce brothers’ reported $10,000 contribution to help fund Olympic hopeful Laila Edwards’ journey to the Winter Games in Milan. Edwards is set to become the first Black woman to play for the U.S. women’s Olympic ice hockey team, a milestone widely celebrated online. But instead of focusing on the historic achievement, some fans zeroed in on Nicole’s interaction with the post.
Nicole, 34, dated Kelce on and off from 2017 to 2022. Since their split, Kelce’s high-profile romance with Taylor Swift has fueled intense online scrutiny—particularly from devoted Swift fans who closely monitor social media activity connected to him. Screenshots of Nicole’s “like” quickly circulated, prompting accusations that she was attempting to stay relevant or insert herself back into the conversation.
Critics labeled the move “attention-seeking” and “clout-chasing,” arguing that any public engagement involving Kelce is deliberate. Some social media users went as far as claiming she continues to tie her identity to her former relationship. The tone of the commentary ranged from skeptical to openly hostile, underscoring how heated fan dynamics can become when celebrity relationships overlap with major fandoms.
Still, others see the reaction as overblown. Nicole did not comment on the situation, and liking a post about a charitable act is hardly unusual behavior online. Supporters argue that reading deeper motives into a simple social media interaction says more about fan culture than about Nicole herself.
The latest flare-up highlights how life after a very public breakup can remain complicated—especially when one ex moves on with one of the biggest pop stars in the world. In today’s hyper-connected celebrity landscape, even a single tap on a screen can ignite a firestorm that takes on a life of its own.
