Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese has never shied away from controversy, and her latest podcast episode has only added more fuel to the fire. This week, Reese invited Kayla Nicole—known for being the ex-girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce—onto her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, fully aware that the discussion would likely spark backlash.
During the episode, Reese and Nicole delved into Nicole’s past relationship with Kelce, touching on the insinuations that the NFL star is now forbidden from having any contact with his ex due to his high-profile romance with pop sensation Taylor Swift.
The discussion immediately sent social media into a frenzy, with Reese finding herself the target of countless comments and strongly-worded messages from Swift’s legion of fans, the “Swifties.”
Despite the storm of criticism, Reese appeared unfazed. On Friday afternoon, she posted a cryptic, three-word tweet: “Hating pays too.” While she didn’t explicitly mention Swift or Kelce, it’s widely presumed that Reese was addressing the situation, hinting at the backlash she and Nicole had received from Swift’s fans.
RELATED: Viral Photo of Angel Reese with Travis Kelce’s Ex-Girlfriend Sparks Buzz
The podcast episode, which has been live for just 24 hours, already garnered 47,000 views on YouTube and nearly 1,000 comments. Many of the responses came from fans defending Reese and Nicole against the onslaught of criticism they’ve faced from Swift’s followers.
Still, Reese’s tweet drew its fair share of detractors, with some users on X (formerly Twitter) accusing her of embracing a villainous persona.
“So you just openly admitted you’re a proud narcissist? Got it,” wrote user @SerhanOnX.
“Ahh yes, making content to pander towards engagement baiting and then playing the victim card wondering why people respond to you the way they do. Pretty on brand,” @treytrey1011 remarked.
“You took this opportunity to become one of the most unlikeable athletes playing today. Lmao, have fun, just don’t cry later because you like being the villain, remember?” @Domthgr8 commented.
“Weren’t you just victim crying about this like a week ago? Rules for thee, not for me, eh?” @JaxPHL questioned.
Another user, @Gigi414107, criticized Reese for bringing Nicole on the show and insinuated that she was trying to portray Nicole as someone unable to move on from her relationship with Kelce. “So you set her up to look like a bunny boiler that can’t move on from her ex of three years ago? What a class act. Your karma’s gonna be something else. I’ll pray for you.”
While Reese has not directly responded to the specific criticisms, it’s clear that the episode’s content—particularly the candid conversation about Kelce—has ruffled feathers, especially among Swift’s die-hard supporters.
The speculation about Kelce’s current relationship with Swift and his past with Nicole has turned into a hot-button issue, and by addressing it on her platform, Reese may have unintentionally ignited a feud with one of the most powerful fanbases in pop culture.
This latest controversy is just one of several that have emerged from Reese’s podcast in recent weeks. She recently faced backlash for featuring guests like WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes, who had critical things to say about Iowa star Caitlin Clark.
Many fans interpreted this as Reese using Clark’s name to build attention and grow her podcast’s following, further cementing her role as a polarizing figure in sports.
For Reese, the heat of the spotlight is nothing new, and she seems more than willing to embrace the attention, even when it comes with negativity. However, by stirring up drama with Taylor Swift’s massive fanbase, she may have taken her embrace of controversy to a whole new level.
As the dust settles, it remains to be seen how this latest feud will impact her career both on and off the court.
