Travis Kelce‘s ex-girlfriend is opening up on her decision to cut ties with Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on social media … saying she still has love for her friends, but she had to create a distance to “protect” herself amid the tight end’s new romance with Taylor Swift.

Kayla Nicole — who dated Kelce for five years — hit the “unfollow” button on her longtime friends’ Instagram accounts last month … something she says she discussed with Brittany in private.

“I do think it’s important to publicly address this because I did publicly unfollow people,” Nicole told People. “The reality is I know these people in real life. And so, in real life, I’ve communicated to these people why I’ve had to publicly make the decisions that I made.”

Shortly after Kayla’s social media activity, many speculated she was pissed about Brittany getting chummy with her ex’s new woman … but she says that’s not the case — seemingly claiming she is still in contact with not only the Mahomeses, but Travis as well.

“To everyone it’s like, ‘Oh, you broke up a year ago,’ and that meant it’s like a light switch, you turn it on and off and everything goes dead and black and you don’t ever speak to anyone ever again. That’s not reality. I have ongoing relationships with all parties involved.”

Kayla added Brittany knows she still cares about her … but it sounds like she decided to separate herself in the public space to avoid further drama as she looks to move on with her life.

“That’s a lot of history and friendship there, that doesn’t change overnight,” Kayla said. “But publicly, because things are happening so quickly and so publicly, I have to protect myself. That’s really all that is. The love is still there.”