Though Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has moved on to a high-profile relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift, the echoes of his former relationship with Kayla Nicole continue to spark discussion.

Nicole, known for her candid social media presence, recently opened up about dating perspectives and addressed criticism tied to her past with Kelce.

In a recent tweet, Nicole expressed her approval of coffee dates as a simple and meaningful first-date idea.

“I’m trippin or asking someone out for coffee is a great first date idea? It’s inexpensive, forces you to have conversation and allows for a quick exit if the vibes aren’t right,” she wrote.

One user responded with a dig referencing Nicole’s relationship with Kelce, implying that her current outlook is a shift from her past.

“Life is truly humbling, no way she saying this 3 years ago lol,” the user wrote.

Nicole fired back, highlighting the assumption behind the comment.

“Very dense of you to think you know me or what I’ve been doing for 3 years. Get a hobby,” she replied.

The exchange sparked mixed reactions, with some users supporting Nicole’s stance while others criticized her for addressing the comment at all.

Lessons learned after the breakup

Earlier this year, Nicole opened up about her split from Kelce during an interview on Angel Reese‘s podcast. The pair dated publicly from 2017 to 2022, enduring challenges, including a long-distance relationship and constant public scrutiny.

After their first breakup, Nicole revealed she faced financial struggles, sharing that her lease on both her home and car ended around the same time. The experience taught her valuable lessons about independence.

“From that point moving forward, it was like, ‘I don’t care who I date, I don’t care where they are, I’m going to always have my own place. I’m going to always have my own car. I’m going to always focus on my career and support theirs but really prioritize my own goals,'” she explained.