Did Taylor Swift throw a few subtle jabs at Travis Kelce’s ex on her new album? Fans certainly think so.
After the release of The Life of a Showgirl on Friday, listeners quickly took to social media to dissect lyrics from Swift’s track Opalite, pointing out lines that seem to reference Kayla Nicole.
“TAYLOR SWIFT JUST CALLED KAYLA NICOLE TF OUT IM LIVING FOR TS12 #thelifeofashowgirl,” one fan wrote on X. Another added, “Opalite—such a sweet song, but the Kayla digs are savage.”
The lyric in question appears to be: “You couldn’t understand it, why you felt alone / You were in it for real, she was in her phone / And you were just a pose,” seemingly nodding to Nicole.
Nicole dated Travis Kelce on and off for five years, from 2017 to 2022.
Lyrics from Opalite seem to suggest that the “Pre-Game with Kayla Nicole” podcast host may have dated Kelce, 35, for clout. The former couple appeared together on several red carpets during their relationship.
A resurfaced video even shows Kelce complaining to Nicole about spending too much time on her phone.
The pair first connected in 2017 after a few flirty Instagram interactions, culminating in Nicole sliding into Kelce’s DMs on New Year’s Eve. Their relationship lasted intermittently over the next five years.
Since the Kansas City Chiefs tight end began dating Swift, Nicole has frequently been asked about her past romance with Kelce. In January 2024, the “Special Forces” alum revealed on a podcast that while she’s “attracted to men in positions of power,” she was done dating athletes.
Since her split from Kelce, Nicole has said she’s attracted to “men in positions of power.” She mentioned at the time that she would “love” to date a record label executive or a movie producer so they could enjoy date nights at sporting events.
In May, Nicole responded to critics telling her to “get over” the breakup, quipping, “Life handed me lemons and I made a lemon martini out of it and that upsets people.”
Swift, who had never publicly commented on Kelce’s ex, appears to finally address her in Opalite, a track widely believed to be about the NFL star. The biggest hint lies in Kelce’s birthday—October 5—and the fact that his birthstones are opal and tourmaline.
The pop superstar has not confirmed whether any lyrics were aimed at Nicole.
Opalite, however, isn’t the only track on the album generating speculation. Many Swifties also believe that Everything Romantic contains subtle jabs at Charli XCX. Fans particularly highlighted the line, “I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when the coke’s got you brave,” which seems to allude to the British artist’s rumored drug use.
Neither Swift nor her representatives have confirmed the inspirations behind the lyrics. Page Six has also reached out to Nicole’s team for comment.
