The internet’s obsession with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance has claimed another casualty as Kayla Nicole, the NFL star’s ex-girlfriend, took to social media today to express her growing frustration with Swift’s fanbase.

In an emotional Instagram Story posted just hours ago, Nicole revealed she’s been bombarded with tags, mentions, and direct messages from “Swifties” sharing images from Swift and Kelce’s recent PDA-filled Nashville weekend.

The fitness influencer and sports journalist, who dated Kelce on and off for five years before their final split in 2022, described the constant notifications as “exhausting” and “unnecessary,” pleading with fans to “please just let me move on in peace.”

The incident that sparked Nicole’s response was a series of viral photos showing Swift and Kelce engaged in rare public displays of affection during their weekend getaway to Nashville, where the couple attended a friend’s wedding.

The images, which show the pair kissing at a rooftop bar and walking hand-in-hand through the city’s famous Broadway district, quickly went viral, amassing millions of likes across platforms.

While most fans celebrated the couple’s obvious happiness, a vocal subset of Swifties took it upon themselves to tag Nicole in the posts, with some adding taunting captions like “upgrade” and “this could have been you.”

This digital pile-on eventually prompted Nicole’s raw response, where she wrote: “It’s been almost two years. I’ve said nothing but kind things about their relationship. I’ve moved on with my life. The constant tagging is exhausting, and it needs to stop.”

Nicole’s relationship with Kelce was significant, spanning five years with several breaks before their final split in May 2022—approximately a year before rumors of his romance with Swift first emerged.

Throughout their relationship, Nicole was a fixture at Chiefs games, developed close friendships with other NFL wives and girlfriends, and built her own career as a sports journalist and fitness influencer. Since the breakup, she has maintained a dignified silence about Kelce, even as his relationship with Swift catapulted him to a new level of fame.

In rare comments about the situation last December, Nicole told a podcast host she wished them both “happiness and healing,” a gracious stance that makes the current harassment all the more unwarranted.

The backlash to Nicole’s plea has been mixed, highlighting the often toxic nature of parasocial relationships in the social media age. While many fans—including some self-identified Swifties—rushed to defend Nicole, others doubled down on the harassment, suggesting she was “jealous” or “seeking attention.”

This reaction underscores a troubling pattern in how the public treats the exes of celebrities, particularly when those celebrities enter high-profile new relationships.

“There’s this strange expectation that exes should disappear or suffer publicly,” explained Dr. Jenn Mann, a relationship expert and therapist. “It reflects our cultural obsession with romantic narratives where the ‘new love’ must be celebrated at the expense of past relationships.”

Friends of Nicole have privately expressed concern about the toll the harassment is taking on her mental health. “Kayla’s built her own successful career and is dating again, but it’s hard to move forward when thousands of strangers keep dragging you back into your ex’s story,” one source close to Nicole told People magazine.

“She’s genuinely happy for Travis, but that doesn’t mean she deserves to have his new relationship shoved in her face daily.” The source added that Nicole has lost business opportunities due to her connection to Kelce, with some brands fearing backlash from Swift’s powerful fanbase if they work with her.

The situation highlights the darker side of Swift’s massive online following, which, while often mobilized for positive causes, has also been criticized for targeted harassment campaigns. Swift herself has not commented on her fans’ behavior toward Nicole, though she has previously spoken out against online bullying in general terms.

Kelce, meanwhile, has maintained a respectful silence about his past relationship, focusing instead on his flourishing romance with Swift, which recently passed the one-year mark.

Sources close to the Chiefs tight end say he would be “disappointed” to learn about the harassment of his ex, as “he has nothing but respect for Kayla and the time they shared.”

Social media experts note that this type of harassment reflects broader issues with fan culture in the digital age. “What we’re seeing with Kayla Nicole is unfortunately common,” said Dr. Karen North, a digital social media expert at USC Annenberg.

“Fans feel entitled to insert themselves into celebrities’ personal lives, including past relationships, without considering the real human impact of their actions.”

North points out that while celebrities like Swift and Kelce have teams to help manage their online presence, exes like Nicole are often left to navigate the fallout alone, despite never choosing to be public figures.

The incident has sparked calls for greater awareness about digital harassment and its impact on mental health. Several mental health advocates have spoken out in support of Nicole, including Therapy for Black Girls founder Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, who tweeted: “Constantly tagging someone in their ex’s new relationship isn’t fandom—it’s harassment.

We need to talk more about the real psychological harm this causes.” These concerns are particularly relevant given recent studies showing links between social media harassment and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among targets.

For her part, Nicole appears determined to move forward despite the ongoing harassment. Hours after her initial post, she shared another Story featuring a peaceful beach scene with the caption: “Focusing on my blessings, not distractions.”

Friends say she’s channeling her energy into her fitness brand and several upcoming television projects, though she has reportedly increased security measures after receiving concerning messages from some Swift fans. “Kayla just wants to live her life,” the source told People. “She’s not asking for anything except basic respect and the space to move on.”

As Swift and Kelce’s relationship continues to capture public attention—with engagement rumors swirling and the football season approaching—the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the collateral damage often left in the wake of celebrity romances.

While millions celebrate the joy of “Tayvis,” one woman is asking for the simple dignity of being allowed to leave the past behind. The question remains whether fans will finally respect her wishes or continue to drag her into a narrative from which she’s repeatedly asked to be excluded.