Kayla Nicole just turned her high-profile past into comedy gold—and she’s not holding back.
The sports commentator appeared in a cheeky Super Bowl campaign for fantasy league site Sleeper, where she threw playful shade at ex-boyfriend Travis Kelce and his engagement to Taylor Swift.
Co-starring comedian Tiffany Haddish, NBA player Ben Simmons, and rapper Offset, the ad cleverly pokes fun at being perpetually linked to famous exes.
And Nicole’s willingness to laugh at herself might just be the ultimate power move.
The “Ex Communicator” Premise Gets Real
The tongue-in-cheek advertisement, which premiered Sunday during Super Bowl coverage, introduces a fictional business called “Ex Communicator” run by Haddish and Simmons. Their supposed mission? Helping celebrity “clients” separate their public images from their famous former flames.
Nicole appears as one of three talking-head interview subjects, identified on-screen as the “ex of a certain NFL player.” She wastes no time getting into character.
Don’t get me started on these two — they’ve got no idea what they’re doing. Simmons & Haddish promised me that they could put an end to this whole ‘ex-girlfriend’ fiasco quickly.
But that’s when the wordplay begins.
A “Swift” Joke That Landed Perfectly
When Simmons interrupts to say her statement doesn’t sound right, Nicole tries alternate words: “rapidly” and “pronto.” Still not satisfied, Simmons delivers the punchline everyone saw coming—but still appreciated.
I said swiftly, why is that so hard to remember?
The reference to Taylor Swift lands with surgical precision. Kelce, who dated Nicole on and off from 2017 to 2022, got engaged to the pop superstar in August 2024 after going public with their relationship in 2023.
Nicole’s willingness to participate in the joke shows she’s moved past any bitterness—or at least knows how to monetize the narrative.
Tiffany Haddish Takes Aim at Travis Kelce
Not content with just the Swift reference, Haddish jumps in with her own dig at the Kansas City Chiefs tight end. Setting up a joke about mistaken identity, she quips about Simmons’ confusion.
That’s on me, I came at him wrong. I thought he was Black, my bad.
Simmons plays along perfectly, responding with a reference to Kelce’s signature hairstyle.
To your credit, Tiff, we as a [Black] community need to be better gatekeepers of the taper fade.
The joke highlights Kelce’s well-documented love of fade haircuts, turning a simple hairstyle into comedy material.
This Isn’t Kayla’s First Rodeo
Nicole has subtly addressed her breakup from the New Heights podcaster before. Last Halloween, she dressed as R&B icon Toni Braxton and posted video of herself singing “He Wasn’t Man Enough.”
Fans immediately connected dots between the costume and Kelce’s engagement to Swift, particularly given pointed lyrics like:
Do you know I dumped your husband, girlfriend?/ I’m not thinking ’bout him/ But you married him.
Whether intentional or coincidental, Nicole clearly isn’t afraid to let people speculate. She’s leaning into public perception rather than running from it—and arguably controlling her own story in the process.
Offset Also Joins The Ex Club
Nicole wasn’t alone in her comedic vulnerability. Rapper Offset, whose messy split from estranged wife Cardi B has dominated headlines since July 2024, also appears in the Sleeper campaign.
His contribution? Pure sarcasm.
I don’t even know what I’m doing here, I’m great at relationships.
Given that his breakup with Cardi has involved public accusations, social media drama, and paternity rumors, Offset’s self-awareness adds another layer to the ad’s humor.
Why This Campaign Works
Sleeper’s strategy here is brilliant: embrace the elephant in the room. Rather than pretend Nicole, Offset, and their romantic histories don’t exist, the brand turned celebrity baggage into relatable content.
People love seeing famous individuals laugh at themselves. It humanizes them and makes them more likable—especially when past relationships become permanent Wikipedia entries.
- Self-deprecating humor shows confidence and emotional maturity
- Pop culture references generate organic social media buzz
- Celebrity participation lends authenticity brands can’t manufacture
By participating, Nicole signals she’s more than just “Travis Kelce’s ex.” She’s a personality willing to joke about her past while building her own brand.
Moving Forward With Humor
Nicole’s relationship with Kelce lasted five years across multiple breakups and reconciliations. Their final split came in 2022, roughly a year before Kelce began dating Swift.
Since then, Swift and Kelce have become one of entertainment’s highest-profile couples. Their engagement made international headlines, and Swift’s presence at Chiefs games became a cultural phenomenon.
For Nicole, being repeatedly identified as Kelce’s ex could feel limiting. But rather than fight that association with frustration, she’s weaponizing it with comedy.
That approach not only diffuses potential awkwardness but also keeps her relevant in conversations she might otherwise be excluded from. It’s strategic, savvy, and surprisingly healthy.
What This Says About Celebrity Breakups
High-profile splits rarely offer clean endings. Someone always becomes “the ex,” especially when their former partner moves on to someone even more famous.
Nicole’s willingness to participate in this ad suggests she’s reclaimed that narrative. Instead of being defined by what ended, she’s defining herself through how she responds.
That’s power.
Whether you’re Team Kayla, Team Taylor, or just here for entertaining Super Bowl ads, one thing is clear: Nicole knows exactly what she’s doing. And she’s doing it with humor, grace, and perfectly timed pop culture references.