Fans accuse Taylor Swift of punching down by DISSING Travis Kelce’s EX Kayla Nicole
Punching Down? Fans Accuse Taylor Swift of DISSING Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole in New Song “Opalite”
The lyrical detective work has begun following the release of Taylor Swift’s album, The Life of a Showgirl, and fans are convinced one track is throwing shade not at an ex-boyfriend, but at her fiancé Travis Kelce’s most recent ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole.
The accusation: The lyric is a “punch-down” aimed at Nicole, who has faced intense public scrutiny since Kelce and Swift became a global power couple.
The Incriminating Lyrics and Resurfaced Video 📱
The speculation centers on the track “Opalite,” a love song widely believed to be about Kelce and his journey toward happiness. The second verse contains the lines that have ignited the controversy:
“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.”
The Smoking Gun Clip
Eagle-eyed fans immediately connected these lyrics to a resurfaced video of Kelce and Nicole from their on-again/off-again relationship (2017–2022). In the clip, Kelce is visibly frustrated, telling Nicole: “Oh, my God. Get off your phone. Get off your phone. You’re not even drinking your wine anymore, can we go?”
Nicole, who is a sports journalist and influencer, argues in the clip that she wouldn’t need to “seek validation from a bunch of strangers on the internet” if “someone sometimes would pay [her] attention.”
The parallel is not lost on fans, who are using the clip as “video evidence” that Swift’s lyrics directly reference the tense social media dynamic in Kelce’s previous relationship.
Why Fans Are Calling It “Punching Down” 🥊
While Kelce himself called “Opalite” his “favorite” song on the album, critics and non-Swift fans are expressing discomfort with the alleged shade.
The Stigma: Kayla Nicole has been open about the “level of hate and online chaos” she has endured since Kelce began dating Swift, admitting the constant trolling made her question her “overall value as a person.”
The Power Imbalance: Fans argue that Taylor Swift—a billionaire global icon—is “punching down” by calling out Nicole, who is a prominent but less-famous media personality. The argument is that Swift is using her massive platform to confirm a narrative about her fiancé’s ex that has already been weaponized against Nicole by online trolls.
Confirming the Troll Narrative: The lyrics fuel the narrative that Nicole was using Kelce for “clout and attention” and confirm Kelce’s frustration, which is exactly what trolls have been using to criticize Nicole online for two years.
Kayla Nicole’s Classy Clapback 👑
Despite the drama, Kayla Nicole has maintained a poised stance, subtly responding to the speculation without ever mentioning Swift’s name.
“I’m No Comparison”: Hours after the album dropped, Nicole posted a clip of America’s Next Top Model contestant Eva Marcille confidently declaring: “I don’t compare myself to other girls. I’m Eva. I’m no comparison to anyone else.” This move was widely interpreted as a classy, confident clapback to the alleged shade.
Endorsing Diss Tracks: Nicole later went on her podcast, The Pre-Game, to advocate for artists settling disputes in the studio, not on Twitter, telling people to “shut up and get in the booth.”
Regardless of whether the lyrics were intentional shade or simply an artistic nod to her fiancé’s past experiences, the drama has secured “Opalite’s” place as one of the most dissected tracks of the year, reigniting the conversation around the messy celebrity love triangle.
Do you think Taylor Swift was right to reference her fiancé’s past relationship in a song, or is it a case of punching down? Share your thoughts below!
