Chicago Sky star Angel Reese had a sly, three-word response to the backlash she received after having Kayla Nicole, Travis Kelce’s ex, on her podcast “Unapologetically Angel”

Angel Reese had a sly, three-word response to the hate she is seemingly receiving on social media.

The newest episode of Reese’s podcast, “Unapologetically Angel,” featured influencer Kayla Nicole, whom Travis Kelce used to date before his relationship with Taylor Swift. During the episode, Nicole spoke of how dating Kelce added to her personal struggles and opened her up to online abuse.

As such, the most devoted section of Swift’s fanbase – known as “Swifties” – did not take kindly to Nicole’s comments, throwing hateful comments their way. In response, the Chicago Sky star forward posted a three-word message to those electing to spend their time hating on the basketball star.

On X, Reese simply posted: “hating pays too,” with an emoji of nails being painted. Many fans took more umbrage to the 22-year-old’s post on social media, with some throwing her comments about being “the villain” back at her.

“You took this opportunity to become one of the most unlikeable athletes playing today lmao have fun, just don’t cry late [because] you like being the villain, remember?” A fan chimed in. Another believed Reese’s decision to bring on Nicole on her podcast was to paint the influencer in a negative light.

“So you set her up to look like a bunny boiler that can’t move on from her ex of three years ago?” one fan stated. “What a class act. Your karmas gonna be something else. I’ll pray for you.”

During the episode, Nicole gave an insight into how her relationship was with Kelce and how his status as one of the best players in the NFL affected their ability to grow as a couple. “We’ve seen each other in public spaces before, but it’s — I think that we’re both aware of the nature of his new situation that there’s just no room really for us to communicate or acknowledge each other publicly without it being spun into something crazy,” Nicole began.

“I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and just, like, online chaos doesn’t impact me. It does, even to this day. You can go to my most recent post, and it will be people debating each other why I am worthless, and I’ll never be a talented person and I have no career.”

In response to the interview, Swift’s fanbase unearthed a clip of Caitlin Clark, Reese’s rival, from September 2023 welcoming the pop megastar to being a Kansas City Chiefs fan. In the clip, Clark states: “Taylor Swift, welcome to the good side” along with the hashtag “Chiefs Kingdom.”

It wasn’t just Swift’s fans that were critical of the Sky star. NBA legend Sam Cassell explained how he thought Reese was “lazy” in high school, but was pleasantly surprised to see her break out to be the star she is today.

“I thought she was so lazy in high school because she was so much better than anyone,” he said during an appearance on the “Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast. “Sometimes she’d miss a layup, get a rebound, (and) miss another layup. The other team got the ball and she wouldn’t run back down court.

“Watching her grow up through the ranks in Baltimore High School and seeing her now play the game of basketball.”