Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Breaks Down in Tears as She Recalls Their 'Public Breakup' on “Special Forces”

In a sneak peek of the show's season 3, the influencer whispered the NFL star's name to another contestant wondering who she dated in the spotlight

Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic Travis Kelce and ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole.
Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic Travis Kelce and ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole.

Kayla Nicole is addressing her "public breakup" with Travis Kelce in her upcoming appearance on season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

In a preview of the Fox show, Nicole, 32, is introduced alongside other star competitors set to rough it on season 3, like Denise Richards and Brody Jenner. The influencer appears to wipe away tears and her voiceover shares, "Going through a public breakup, it's been overwhelming."

In a following clip from the series, a fellow contestant asks Nicole who her ex is, and she whispers to confirm the name of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.

In October 2024, the sports commentator appeared on an episode of Angel Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast and spoke out about the negativity she's faced on social media since Kelce, 35, started dating Taylor Swift, 34.

Charley Gallay/Getty Kayla Nicole.

Charley Gallay/Getty

Kayla Nicole.

Related: Travis Kelce's Ex Kayla Nicole Says 'Hate' She's Received Since He Started Dating Taylor Swift Affects Her ‘to This Day’

"I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and just, like, online chaos didn't impact me, it does. Even to this day," Nicole said.

"You can go to my most recent post and it will be people debating each other why I am worthless and I'll never be a talented person and I have no career,” she added.

Reese asked Nicole why she thinks she has been subjected to so much hate after handling the end of their five-year, on-off relationship with “grace.”

"I don't know," Nicole responded. "I think that there's something about that level of fame that attracts crazy people, and it's unfortunate because I've never done anything to warrant that kind of backlash."

The media personality started dating Kelce in 2017, and the duo were involved in an on-again, off-again relationship for five years. Nicole previously revealed that they first connected through Instagram. "He had been following me and insta-flirting for a few months," she revealed in a since-deleted Instagram Stories post captured by TMZ.

Joe Scarnici/Getty Travis Kelce and ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Travis Kelce and ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole.

Following rumors of their breakup in January 2023 — including speculation that they parted ways for financial reasons — Kelce set the record straight during an interview with The Pivot Podcast in January 2023: "Don't buy into that s—," he told the hosts.

Since Kelce and Swift confirmed their romantic relationship in September 2023, Nicole has made an effort to "move forward" with her life. This included unfollowing friends Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram.

Season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test will premiere on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.