Kayla Nicole is making changes in 2024.
The influencer — who became part of headlines when her ex-boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce started dating Taylor Swift last year — explained how she’s “protecting [her] peace” after the “social media s–t show” that caused her emotional pain.
“I turned off my comments recently,” Kayla said on the “Behind the Likes” podcast when hosts Winter Blanco and Chy Fontenette asked how she deals with criticism.
“You can’t DM me anymore … because people just talk crazy and I’ve had enough.
“I’m exhausted, I’m tired. It’s new year and, to be honest, it’s the same me. So in order for it to be a new me, I need to do some new things.
“So that starts with just protecting my peace and you’re not just gonna talk to me any kind of way, you’re not saying anything else to me. You can talk to a black hole — comments off. ”https://youtu.be/PDTY_U3UsdQ?list=PLVHs7P62R9VVOGhURdk1fWS8_HFACCJd6
Kayla explained the new approach she took to social media.
“I posted this the other day, ‘All of this stuff that y’all say to me on the internet, you would never say to my face,’” she said. “I promise you that. I’m a super kind person but do not ever play with me for real.
“When it comes to the internet, I just learned that in the long run it’s a waste of my energy.”
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift arrive at the SNL Afterparty on October 15, 2023 in New York City.GC Images
Kayla’s name was dragged into the news when Kelce and Swift went public with their relationship in October.
The model dated the All-Pro tight end on and off from 2017-22, and they attended the NFL Honors together in Inglewood, Calif. on Feb. 10, 2022.
Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole attend the 11th Annual NFL Honors at YouTube Theater on Feb. 10, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif.Getty Images
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Brittany Matthews, Kayla Nicole and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs attend the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills as part of the 2022 NHL All-Star Weekend on Feb. 4, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nev.NHLI via Getty Images
Kayla shared why she felt compelled to speak out in a candid open letter on her Instagram page, in which she addressed “backlash and embarrassment.”
“I was at a crossroads where I felt like unseen and unheard and I felt like everyone was kind of talking for me in one way or another,” she said. “I was put in the middle of this, just social media s–t show of a situation and it was like I wanted to address things directly, but I knew that if I didn’t do it my way, on my terms and my own time that it was going to be spun into something else.
“I’m so happy with what I did. I remember a point where I couldn’t sleep at night, I was so emotional … It was a buildup. I needed to say something because at the end of the day … I was keeping the peace for everybody else, but what about the peace within me?
Kayla Nicole poses for a photo on Nov. 1, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles.NBAE via Getty Images
“I think I handled it in the most appropriate way that I could. I got my point across and I feel like people that needed to hear that message heard it and I stand on it.”
Kayla did not name Kelce or Swift while explaining the video, which she shared to social media on Oct. 9.