(NewsNation) — Chase Stokes confesses he “did nothing wrong” in what fans think is about his breakup with singer Kelsea Ballerini, following rumors that her new song is about his ex-girlfriend.
In a pair of cryptic posts on his Instagram Stories, the “Outer Banks” actor hinted he and Ballerini have officially broken up.
“Don’t believe the media. I’m blocked, I did nothing wrong,” Stokes said in the first post. “Sorry I tried,” he added, alongside a heart emoji.
In the second post, strongly hinting he’s talking about his relationship with the “Cowboys Cry Too” singer-songwriter, Stokes writes, “I’m sorry for those who believed in us. It is what it is. Onwards and upwards.”
Ballerini and Stokes reportedly split in September after dating for three years, a rep for the singer told People magazine. However, they were seen holding hands earlier this month in Croatia, according to People magazine.
Is Kelsea Ballerini’s new song about Madelyn Cline?
When Ballerina teased her “Mount Pleasant” EP on TikTok, fans filled the comments asking if the song “Emerald City” was about Stokes’s “Outer Banks” co-star and ex-girlfriend Madelyn Cline, whom he dated for a year and a half before they broke up in November 2021, according to Cosmopolitan.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Chase Stokes and Madelyn Cline accept the Best Kiss award for ‘Outer Banks’ onstage during the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on May 16, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS) 
Chase Stokes at the 60th Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the Ford Center at The Star on May 08, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Kelsea Ballerini wears long center-parted blonde hair in loose waves, a structured oversized dark brown blazer jacket, outside Michael Kors, during New York Fashion Week, on September 11, 2025 in New York, New York (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images) 
JOHNS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 02: Madelyn Cline attends the Reign Storm Fit Collective hosted by Reign Storm Clean Energy and Madelyn Cline on August 02, 2025 in Johns Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for Reign Storm)
In the song, Kelsea sings about a love interest’s connection with an ex.
“Always liked the color of my eyes ’til I knew she had brown / I’m green / Always liked my naïve innocence ’til I learned she got around / I’m green,” she sings on “Emerald City.”
Stokes called out people in the comments, drawing a connection between the song and his exes, writing, “These comments are f——weird. Grow up.”
Ballerina has sung Cline’s praises in 2023 during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
“I met her and I talked to her and she’s lovely,” she said. “And I think she’s wildly talented.”