50 Cent just stirred up a new wave of conversation around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, and it’s not just about their high-profile romance. In a recent interview, the rapper appeared to throw shade at Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, while showing his support for the NFL star’s current relationship with Swift. Fans were quick to catch the subtle jab, especially after hearing how warmly 50 spoke about Swift and her boyfriend.

What 50 Cent said about Swift’s shout-out and Kelce

50 Cent recently sat down for an on-camera interview with Xtratv to have a heartfelt and candid chat. During the conversation, he was asked about Taylor Swift’s reference to him in one of her songs, and 50 Cent couldn’t hide his excitement. “When she makes the reference, if you listen to the song, it’s about what was going on in culture at that time. The music, you couldn’t miss it, and that’s why it was cool to me,” he said. “The shout-out is the shout-out; she was referencing when no one was more prominent in the music. So, it was exciting to have that, and I like her boyfriend too. I like the team. I like KC. I like the whole thing.”

That’s when things took an interesting turn. The interviewer followed up, asking if 50 Cent was a Travis Kelce fan as well, to which he responded, “Yeah.” When pressed about whether he liked Swift and Kelce as a couple, 50 didn’t hold back. “I do. I do. I like it a lot better than the last thing he has going on… It’s a lot better.” The “last thing”, of course, was a reference to Kelce’s past relationship with model and sports journalist Kayla Nicole,” a dig that fans immediately picked up on.

Taylor Swift’s shout-out to 50 Cent

The entire conversation started because of Taylor Swift’s mention of 50 Cent in one of her new songs. The rapper was reacting to her shout-out on Ruin the Friendship from her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. The song is believed to be about a would-be high school romance with a friend who has since passed away. In the track, Swift sings, “And it was not an invitation / But as the 50 Cent song played / Should’ve kissed you anyway.” 

Taylor Swift gives a shout-out to 50 Cent in her song Ruin The Friendship | Credit: X/@taylornation 13 Inside Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole’s relationship

For context, Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole dated on and off between 2017 and 2022. Nicole, a popular content creator and sports journalist, often appeared at NFL games to support Kelce during their time together. Their split became public after months of speculation, and both appeared to move on quietly. By the summer of 2023, Kelce had begun dating Taylor Swift, and the couple officially confirmed their relationship later that year. In August 2024, they even shared a joint engagement announcement on social media, marking one of pop culture’s biggest love stories.

Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole dated for 5 years before breaking up in 2022 | Credit: X/@kingoalsty
Did Taylor Swift also shade Kayla Nicole in her new album?

Interestingly, fans also think Swift may have thrown her own subtle shade at Kayla Nicole in her new album, The Life of a Showgirl. In the track “Opalite”, Swift sings, “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.” Many listeners believe the lyrics point directly to Kelce’s past relationship, suggesting that Swift might have referenced the emotional disconnect between him and Nicole.

With 50 Cent publicly supporting the couple and praising Swift’s nod to him in her song “Ruin the Friendship”, it seems the rapper has fully joined the Swift-Kelce fan club. But his casual swipe at Kayla Nicole has definitely added more fuel to an already fiery online debate about who’s throwing shade at whom.