Kelsea Ballerini Fires Back at “Speculators” After Chase Stokes Split—and Her Message Leaves No Room for Misinterpretation.LC
Kelsea Ballerini Shares Fiery Message for “Speculators” After Chase Stokes Breakup
Kelsea Ballerini is dropping a bit of baggage.
Just over a week after her breakup from boyfriend Chase Stokes was confirmed, the “I Hate Love Songs” singer shared a heated message about speculation surrounding her being seen leaving a hair salon in Nashville, Tenn. on Sept. 21.
“CC: speculators, ‘sources’, and hidden cameras outside the hair salon,” Kelsea captioned a Sept. 23 video posted to TikTok. “Let us be. please.”
The 32-year-old added Ariana Grande’s “Shut Up” to the video, in which Kelsea—sporting a white tank top and slicked back bun—could be seen leaning on a couch outside as she put her head in her hands and bopped around to the beat of the music.
The “Penthouse” singer took a sip of an energy drink before pointing at the camera as the lyrics, “Maybe you should shut up,” played.
While neither Kelsea nor Chase, 33, have publicly spoken out on their breakup, a rep for the singer confirmed to E! News on Sept. 14 that the couple had indeed ended their relationship after nearly three years together.
Prior to their split, the pair had been the subject of breakup rumors after Kelsea deleted social media posts that included Chase. However, he quickly shut down the speculation at the time by posting a sweet pic of her dog Dibs to his Instagram with a red heart emoji.
John Shearer/Getty Images
In fact, the Outer Banks star shared a sweet message to Kelsea on Instagram for her 32nd birthday just two days before the split was confirmed.
“Although you keep saying you’re not excited for 32,” he wrote on Sept. 12 alongside photos of the two, “I’d say I’m lookin’ forward to more of this.”
He added, “Happy birthday my love.”
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
And while the two were never shy about sharing their romance, Chase previously made it clear that there were aspects of their relationship that he preferred to keep private.
“Sometimes it feels like maybe it’s an oversharing situation, or maybe there’s a lot of details,” he told E! News last September, “but I truthfully believe that my personal life is really, really private. For the most part, I still feel like I have a really good grasp on my privacy.”
For a look back at Kelsea and Chase’s romance, keep reading.
Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Kelsea Ballerini slid into Chase Stokes‘ DMs on Dec. 1, 2022 at 1:30 a.m. while she was out drunk with friends at a bar.
They eventually met up in person for the first time on Jan. 7, 2023, which she considers their anniversary.
“He hopped out of his Bronco, and he did not say a word to me,” Kelsea later recalled on Call Her Daddy in November 2023, “and he grabbed my face and he kissed me and he pulled my face away and he said, ‘Thank God you’re real.'”
Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini
December 2022: Shooting Her Shot
Their romance blossomed after that first DM, which Kelsea shared in September 2023.
January 2023: Romance Rumors
The two huddled up to watch the University of Georgia dominate Texas Christian University at the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship in California.
Instagram/Kelsea Ballerini
January 2023: First Date Nerves
In August 2023, Kelsea posted footage of the beginning of their relationship, sharing a throwback clip on TikTok of herself preparing for their first official date on Jan. 7, 2023.
“Happy weekend,” she captioned the post, “heres a video i sent to my best friend before my first date with chase.”
Set to her song “How Do I Do This,” which is about going on a first date after many years, Kelsea modeled her outfit in the video.
“Here’s the look, with the boots” Kelsea said while checking herself out in a full-length mirror.
Turning around to showcase her half-up, half-down hairstyle, she added, “We’ve got the hair clip, because we’re trying to be a cool girl.”
She continued speaking to an unnamed friend, explaining, “He’s picking me up and we’re going to a sushi place and I’ll call you tomorrow and for a full update.”
Taking a deep breath and raising one arm and finger in the air, she finally said, “I can do this. I can do this.”
And, after doing a little dance, she proclaimed, “It’s just a date. You just go and you just eat food and you talk about things that you do, OK?”
February 2023: Instagram Cuteness
Chase shared a pic of himself and Kelsea showing some PDA.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT
April 2023: Red Carpet Debut
The pair officially hard launched their pairing, stepping out as a couple at the CMT Music Awards in Texas.
Nina Westervelt/Variety via Getty Images
April 2023: Broadway Baby
Days later, the duo attended the premiere party for the Broadway musical Shucked at New York City’s Capitale.
May 2023: Hometown Visit
Chase joined Kelsea on a trip to her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Armani beauty
July 2023: PDA Alert
The two attended Armani Beauty’s ACQUA DI GIO and Gen A celebration in Malibu, Calif.
Instagram/Chase Stokes
July 2023: The Sweetest Surprise
Chase shocked Kelsea when he unexpectedly greeted her at the airport, with both stars posting video and photos from their adorable reunion.
Photo by Kristy Sparow/Variety via Getty Images
August 2023: Ciao Bella
The couple only had eyes for one another at a Venice Film Festival event.
Gotham/GC Images
August 2023: NYC Date Night
While in NYC to perform on TODAY, the singer scheduled in a date night with her No. 1 fan.
“It’s just nice to feel so supported and seen,” Kelsea said on the show of Chase, “and, yeah, he’s such a wonderful, wonderful human being.”
Instagram/Kelsea Ballerini
September 2023: Birthday Love
To commemorate Kelsea’s 30th birthday on Sept. 12, 2023 Chase posted a carousel of photos and videos of the three-time Grammy nominee.
“Dirty 30 looks pretty damn good on you ballerini,” he captioned the series. “i love you.”
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV
September 2023: Red Hot
Making it a red-letter day, the pair celebrated Kelsea’s birthday by coordinating on the carpet at the 2023 MTV VMAs.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV
September 2023: VMAs PDA
And, yes, they shared a birthday kiss.
Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini
September 2023: Couple’s Selfie
Kelsea unveiled this pic on Chase’s 31st birthday days later.
Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
September 2023: A Black Tie Affair
Kelsea and Chase were dressed to the nines when they attended designer Giorgio Armani’s One Night Only event in Venice, Italy.
The singer-songwriter and the Outer Banks star shared images of their getaway on Instagram, including snaps from a cooking class and lounging at the beach.
Instagram / Kelsea Ballerini
September 2023: All Smiles
Kelsea shared this behind-the-scenes look from the event.
John Shearer/Getty Images for CMA
