Kayla Nicole is trying to put out a fire she says she created years ago. Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend issued a public apology on Thursday, addressing the old tweets that resurfaced this week and sparked waves of backlash online.
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In a lengthy message on her Instagram Story, Kayla called her past posts "ignorant, hurtful and completely wrong," saying she's "ashamed that I ever thought or spoke that way."
She admitted it's been "incredibly difficult" watching the tweets go viral again, especially because she believes the woman she is today "would never use those words or express those kinds of views."
Kayla's resurfaced tweets included homophobic and racist language. They began circulating shortly after some fans interpreted her Halloween costume as a jab at Kelce and Taylor Swift — a connection she's already denied.
She went on to say she understands the damage online hate can cause, and that contributing to that "world of pain" is the last thing she wants. As part of trying to move forward, she deleted her X account entirely.
"I refuse to keep that energy alive or contribute to a cycle of hate," Kayla wrote.
She closed her statement by taking full responsibility for her past words and offering an apology to anyone she may have hurt. "My heart, values and perspective are completely rooted in empathy, love and respect for others," she said. "I can't change the past, but I will continue showing through my actions who I've become and what I stand for today."
Meanwhile, Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs sit at 5-4, good enough for only third place in the AFC West — a division that they've owned for the last seven or eight years. They square off with the division-leading Denver Broncos on Sunday.
