“I don't allow it to affect me”: Kayla Nicole opens up about social media backlash after Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift engagement

Kayla Nicole is taking control of the conversation surrounding her past relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his engagement to pop superstar Taylor Swift. The sports reporter and model has faced waves of online criticism since Kelce and Swift announced their engagement on August 26, captioning their news, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”Speaking with PEOPLE during the House of Champions’ New York Fashion Week event, Kayla Nicole emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective in the face of social media negativity. “The opinions of others are only as big as you make them,” she said. “So if I don't allow it to affect me, it simply won't. Sometimes on social media, we think that it's the whole world, and it's really not.”She encouraged her followers to set boundaries and protect their mental health. “It's an app with a couple of 100,000 million people, but you're in control of the narrative, honestly, and if something is holding you, bogging you down, turn it off. Delete the app, log off. That's my biggest advice.”During the same event, Kayla Nicole skillfully avoided questions about Kelce and Swift’s engagement, saying, “Oh, no, no, no. But I'm really happy to be here at Champion, though! This is a dope party.” Her approach reflects a conscious effort to focus on her own life and growth, rather than being pulled into online debates.Nicole previously addressed her social media decisions in 2023, explaining why she unfollowed close friends of Kelce after Swift’s debut at a Chiefs game. She told PEOPLE, “I do think it's important to publicly address this because I did publicly unfollow people. The reality is I know these people in real life. And so, in real life, I've communicated to these people why I've had to publicly make the decisions that I made.”Also Read: Travis Kelce under fire: Chiefs fans furious, demand apology after brutal interception costs the team againHer candid remarks highlight the challenges of navigating fame, online scrutiny, and personal boundaries. As Kayla Nicole continues to prioritize her own narrative, she sends a message of resilience and self-empowerment to anyone facing online negativity.