Travis Kelce’s Ex Kayla Nicole Unfollows Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram amid Taylor Swift Rumors

Amid speculation that a falling out had occurred between the two friends, Nicole exclusively tells PEOPLE that “the reality” of their situation is much more complex

— and that she’s addressed the situation privately with Brittany.”I do think it’s important to publicly address this because I did publicly unfollow people,” Nicole says.

“The reality is I know these people in real life. And so, in real life, I’ve communicated to these people why I’ve had to publicly make the decisions that I made.”

Nicole and Brittany grew close during Nicole’s five-year relationship with Patrick’s Kansas City Chiefs teammatebefore they officially broke up in May 2022.

Nicole even went wedding dress shopping with Brittany and was one of the select few to come on her eight-person bachelorette weekend in February 2022. And now, asNicole says,

“To everyone it’s like, ‘Oh, you broke up a year ago,’ and that meant it’s like a light switch, you turn it on and off and

everything goes dead and black and you don’t ever speak to anyone ever again. That’s not reality. I have ongoing relationships with all parties involved.”

The content creator says she and Brittany “have had our conversations” recently. “She knows that I love her,” Nicole adds.

“That’s a lot of history and friendship there, that doesn’t change overnight,” she continues.

But publicly, because things are happening so quickly and so publicly, I have to protect myself. That’s really all that is. The love is still there.”