Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend did not mince her words when asked to weigh in on his rumored relationship with Taylor Swift.
Maya Benberry, 31, dated Kelce, 33, following his stint on the 2016 E! dating show “Catching Kelce.” Similar to “The Bachelor,” without the expectation of an engagement, the program saw 50 women vie for Kelce’s attention as he tried to find the one.
Benberry and Kelce ended up dating for months after the show ended. He then connected with sports reporter Kayla Nicole, with whom he had an on-again, off-again romance for five years.
In a recent interview with “Inside Edition,” Benberry said her experience dating Kelce led her to view him as a “narcissist” and that she doubted the authenticity of his rumored relationship with Swift.
“Like the saying goes, once a cheater always a cheater,” Benberry said, referring to Kelce. “Certain qualities don’t change in men. I feel like Travis is a narcissist, so most narcissists don’t change.”
Benberry went on to cite Kelce’s willingness to discuss Swift publicly as the main reason she questions the “genuineness” of their connection.
The life coach also said she’s been on the receiving end of negative messages sent by Swift’s fanbase, commonly known as Swifties.
“Swifties are aggressive, very negative, very hypocritical. It’s really crazy to me that someone that I think is positive and really nice has such a negative and angry fanbase,” Benberry said.
She added that she does not know Swift, but is a fan of her music.
“I’m not jealous about Taylor. She’s beautiful, she’s successful. We’re in two different lanes. My issue is more with Travis,” Benberry said.
Representatives for Kelce and Swift did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider, made outside normal working hours.
The pair first sparked dating speculation in July when he attended one of Swift’s Eras Tour shows in Kansas City. He later admitted on the “New Heights” podcast that he tried to give the singer a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it, but got turned away.
Rumors the pair are dating escalated after the “Cruel Summer” singer took up Kelce’s invitation to come to one of his games last Sunday. At the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears in Kansas City, Swift was spotted cheering for Kelce alongside his mother.
While neither Kelce or Swift have confirmed speculation they are in a relationship, he did shower her with praise on Thursday’s “New Heights” episode that’s co-hosted by his brother, Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce.
“I just thought it was awesome how everybody in the suite had nothing but great things to say about her — the friends and family,” he said. “She looked amazing and everybody was talking about her in great light.”
There has also been talk Swift will appear at the upcoming Chiefs and New York Jets game on Sunday, which sparked after NBC released a promo for the event set to her “1989” album track “Welcome To New York.”
Source: Insider