Kayla Nicole, influencer and ex-girlfriend of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, has damaged her silence surrounding the social media discourse about her ex-boyfriend’s rumored new relationship with Taylor Swift. In a digital open letter to Black women shared on Monday, Nicole expressed her ideas on the state of affairs in poetic type.
“Black lady […] you don’t need to take part on this tumultuous, typically one-sided journey. Protect your coronary heart. Even after they attempt to quantify your character and check your boundaries, you don’t have to have interaction,” stated Nicole within the video, seemingly referring to the onslaught of on-line harassment she has obtained since Kelce and Swift have been romantically linked within the media. “You don’t have to reply as a result of there may be energy in your silence, and you should utilize that very same energy to silence the noise and the self-doubt. Silence the voices inside that need you to provide in to this demoralizing and antiquated narrative.”
As Kelce has repeatedly made headlines for his new rumored romance with Swift, the soccer star had already referred to as out the media for “overdoing” their protection of the entertainer’s appearances at his video games. However, some avid social media customers took it upon themselves to dig into the participant’s relationship historical past and discover his most up-to-date ex-girlfriend, Nicole. Since then, the journalist and trend influencer has develop into topic to harassment and racially charged feedback about her former relationship with Kelce.
Nicole and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs champion dated from 2017 to 2022. Throughout their 5 years collectively, the 2 have been comparatively non-public concerning the particulars of their relationship, except for a number of social media posts. But, virtually a yr after their breakup and amid Nicole’s option to unfollow different Kansas Chief associates, social media trolls have looped her again into discussions about Kelce, typically attacking her in posts and feedback. On Monday, Nicole posted a four-minute video during which she defined that her platform is just not designed “to create division however to raise and unite ladies” — particularly Black ladies.
“Expensive Black Woman, they could name you a traitor for falling in love. You’ll hope those closest will defend you. However you’ll shortly discover out that folks don’t defend what they don’t worth,” she stated within the video. “They’ll say you deserve the backlash and embarrassment due to your Blackness; it is best to have recognized higher. They’ll even attempt to tie your worth to your web price, however Black lady, please bear in mind your worth lies elsewhere.”
“The trend of the world is loud,” she continued. “However Black lady, your God is louder, and your tribe is stronger. Your blood runs deeper and is full of energy.”
From addressing the insults she continuously obtained for relationship a white man to the feedback making an attempt to belittle her price as a result of she is now not romantically tied to Kelce, Nicole’s digital open letter to Black women was penned to not solely confront the backlash however extra importantly, to uplift different ladies, particularly Black ladies.
“This isn’t nearly me. This isn’t simply my story, a singular expertise. My reality, trauma, and vulnerability [are] a relatable a part of the human expertise. I do know I’m not alone, and I need to just be sure you know you aren’t both.”
Proving her level, following the video, some social media customers continued to criticize Nicole, calling her video “pathetic” and different derogatory feedback. Whereas some satirically selected World Psychological Well being Day to fill her feedback with hate, others praised her for the way gracefully she approached the state of affairs.
Finally, the dialogue, criticism, and harassment surrounding Kayla Nicole in latest weeks additional show the saying, “Damned when you do, damned when you don’t.” When Nicole maintained her silence, she confronted criticism. When she spoke out with the intention of uplifting different Black ladies who can relate to her expertise, she handled much more backlash. Nevertheless, Nicole’s determination to make use of this latest virality to uplift Black women additional emphasizes some extent made within the video.
“We love, we damage, we heal, however all the time do not forget that your story is yours to inform,” she stated. “You by no means know whose life it could contact as a result of there’s a lot energy and group and connection.”
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