Kayla Nicole is setting the record straight.
The sports reporter shared the real inspiration behind her decision to dress up as Toni Braxton from her 2000 music video "He Wasn't Man Enough" for Halloween 2025 after many speculated that her getup was a subtle diss to her ex-boyfriend Travis Kelce and his fiancée Taylor Swift.
“I had a white best friend. Her name was Taylor,” Kayla recalled on the Nov. 3 episode of her The Pre-Game With Kayla Nicole podcast. “And she [was] the only house I could go over to as a kid because my mom didn’t play them type of games.”
One day, the 34-year-old got a ride home from school with her pal and made the surprising discovery that she wasn't the only fan of Toni's song "He Wasn't Man Enough."
"Her mom was playing this song, playing at the top of her lungs," Kayla explained. "It was just like an ah-hah moment that, 'Wow, white people listen to Black people music as well.'"
Kayla first unveiled her Halloween costume on Instagram Oct. 31, when she shared a video of herself dancing to "He Wasn't Man Enough" while wearing a see-through chain-metal mini dress over a metallic silver bikini.
"Did you know about us back then? / Do you know I dumped your husband, girlfriend?" she lip-synched in the clip. "I'm not thinking 'bout him / But you married him / Do you know I made him leave? / Do you know he begged to stay with me? / He wasn't man enough for me."
Captioning the video, Kayla wrote simply, "A very Toni Halloween."
Following her costume reveal, several social media users theorized that the podcast host—who dated Travis on and off from 2017 to 2022—was throwing shade at the Kansas City Chiefs player and Taylor, who announced their engagement back in August.
"This was a very SAVAGE move," one user commented under the Instagram, while another added, "This is how you have the last laugh..."
Not to mention, the model raised eyebrows last month when she shared a cryptic message shortly after Taylor released her song "Opallite," which many suspected was took a few digs at Kayla's past romance with Travis.
Seemingly in response to the rumors, Kayla reposted a clip to her Instagram Stories Sept. 5 from the third season of America's Top Model in which host Tyra Banks asked eventual winner Eva Marcille, "How do you compare yourself to the other girls out there?" before Eva responds, "I don't compare myself to other girls...I'm no comparison to anyone else."
For more stars who went all out for Halloween 2025, keep reading.
Paris Hilton
As Tinker Bell, the "Stars Are Blind" singer brought some magic to Vas Morgan, Michael Braun and Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves' Halloween bash.
Mindy Kaling
The TV star did her best impression of Timothée Chalamet cheering on the New York Knicks.
Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker
The Poosh founder and Blink-182 drummer wanted to live like Jack and Sally.
Kris Jenner
The Kardashians star donned a sexy ringmaster look for the big day.
Justin Trudeau & Hadrien Trudeau
The former Canadian Prime Minister and his son had a fintastic partner costume.
Sherri Shepherd
The Sherri host channeled her inner Morticia Addams in this Wednesday-inspired look.
Sheinelle Jones
It's been umpteen Halloweens on The Today Show and Sheinelle has done it again in a Beyoncé-inspired look.
Craig Melvin
Nothing compared 2 the Today co-anchor's homage to Prince.
Lindsay Lohan, Bader Shammas, Luai
The Mean Girls star and her family are ready to save Gotham City with the trio dressing up as Batman.
Gigi Hadid
The model and her daughter Khai—who she shares with ex Zayn Malik—were a monster-fighting duo dressed as characters from Disney's Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.
Mariah Carey, Morocco & Monroe
The family celebrated Halloween in Japan.
Kelly Clarkson
The Kelly Clarkson Show host underwent a film-noir makeover.
Today Show
The entire Today crew embraced the spooky spirit.
Savannah Guthrie & Jenna Bush Hager
Being Miranda Priestly and her real-life counterpart Anna Wintour at the same time? Groundbreaking.
Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos
The Live hosts kicked off their Halloween episode with Hamilton-inspired looks.
Al Roker & Carson Daly
The Today Show hosts costumes Rocky III costumes were a total knockout.
Demi Lovato
She's been freed. The "Heart Attack" singer paid homage to her internet meme alter ego, Poot Lovato, for her Halloween costume. As she wrote on Instagram, "been so locked in this era thought i’d let pootvato out."
Leah Kateb
Bow down to the Love Island USA season six finalist's ravishing red ensemble inspired by Princess Jasmine in Aladdin.
Trisha Paytas
Refreshing! The podcaster joined husband Moses Hacmon and influencer Oscar Gracey for a group costume as the Saja Boys from KPop Demon Hunters.
Kourtney Kardashian
The Kardashians star let fans in on her Bride of Frankenstein look.
Tana Mongeau
The LA-based influencer swapped coasts for the night, curling her blonde locks to channel Sex and the City icon Carrie Bradshaw.
James Charles
Complete with smudged red lipstick and costume jewelry, the YouTuber looked terrifying as Gladys from the recent horror hit Weapons.
Andy Cohen & Bette Midler
Iconic as ever, Bette recreated her self-titled 1973 album cover while on the red carpet for her New York Restoration Project Annual Hulaween fundraiser. Andy was also in attendance, donning Andy Warhol's signature black turtleneck and silver locks.
Val Chmerkovskiy & Jenna Johnson
The Dancing With the Stars pros brought their son Rome to trick or treat at the Disney+ Halloween Fest, hosted at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif.
Sophia Umansky and Alexia Umansky
RHOBH star Kyle Richards' daughters enjoy Tequila Don Julio signature cocktails at their private Halloween party in Los Angeles.
Ben Platt & Noah Galvin
The couple went all out for Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project Annual Hulaween fundraiser. Ben dressed as Hugh Hefner while Noah transformed himself into a stunning Playboy Bunny.
Chloe Bailey
“IMA WHOLE LOTTA WOMAN,” the singer-songwriter captioned her all-gold ensemble, emulating Foxy Cleopatra from Austin Powers.
Paris Hilton
Paris paid tribute to a fellow 2000s icon, recreating Britney Spears' latex red body suit from the "Oops!... I Did It Again" music video.
Natalia Bryant
The model flashes a big smile at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights on Oct. 25.
Kim Kardashian, North West & Kris Jenner
The trio proved their internet knowledge, with Kim dressing up as TikTok star Jay Guapo and North dressing as Jay's younger brother, known as Pink Cardigan. Kris also joined in on the fun, dressing as Jay's mom, Chrissy G.