Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders addressed his former player Travis Hunter’s decision to deactivate social media accounts in response to comments about Hunter’s fiancée, Leanna Lenee.
Hunter and Lenee’s Instagram accounts were deactivated on December 23, days after Hunter won the Heisman Trophy. During the ceremony, discussions about the event on social media included several harsh criticisms of Hunter and Lenee as a couple. Hunter’s account has since been reactivated.
Sanders gave his reaction to Hunter’s situation in an interview on the “Tamron Hall Show.”
“It hurt me that he did it,” Sanders said of Hunter’s deactivation. “What the enemy wants you to do is stop.”
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Sanders criticized Hunter for neglecting the business aspect of his decision. As a former collegiate and future professional athlete with a NIL valuation of $5.2 million, according to On3.com, Hunter’s social media account activity is likely directly related to endorsements.
“You have endorsements, people have sponsored you to talk about their product,” Sanders said. “We need to get moving now.”
Sanders also criticized Hunter for backing down and suggested his response would leave him vulnerable to “attack.”
“When someone stands still, you now have a chance to attack, and I hate the stillness of that. Keep moving. Don’t let the enemy catch you while you’re standing still and feeling sorry for yourself- same,” Sanders said, adding that’s what he told Hunter about the situation.
SHEDEUR SANDERS AND TRAVIS HUNTER HAVE THE LARGEST DISABILITY INSURANCE IN CFB HISTORY TO COVER THEIR BOWL GAME
Colorado Buffaloes receiver/corner Travis Hunter after winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via Imagn Images)
Hunter addressed the situation during a Live streaming on Twitchclaiming his fiancée cried herself to sleep and drank because of the backlash.
Lenee previously posted a video on her TikTok account in an effort to end the negativity on December 16.
“I’m tired, emotionally and mentally. I’ve seen people try to make me out to be someone I’m not,” Lenee said in the nearly eight-minute clip.
She also addressed the negativity in her response to Hunter’s win. the Heisman Trophy.
At least one video on social media appeared to show Lenee remaining in his seat moments after Hunter was named the 2024 Heisman recipient. Deion Sanders then seemed to prompt Lenee to stand up. Lenee eventually briefly hugged Hunter before quickly sitting back down during the audience’s standing ovation.
Other video footage appeared to show Lenee remaining seated while Hunter greeted and posed for photos with fans at an event in New York the day after the Heisman ceremony. Some fans attempted to analyze Lenee’s behavior during her time at the event and even suggested that she was irritated.
“When his name was called, I was immediately about to get up. If you watch the video, his mom didn’t get up, so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I don’t get up. Don’t get up, I’m just sitting here,'” she said. “As soon as I saw Travis stand up, then I thought it was appropriate to stand up, greet him, congratulate him.
“But then there was a camera right in front of Coach Prime, and I knew they were going to film this moment and, because of the way people are online, I was like, ‘I don’t want to be in this plan.’ So, I sat down.
Deion Sanders and Travis Hunter (12) of the Colorado Buffaloes on the sideline during a game against the North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Field on August 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
“I purposely walked off camera so they could enjoy their moment. That was it. No one told me to get up. No one had to tell me to celebrate with him. I was just sitting there crying I wanted to understand him I was super excited for him but I wanted this moment to be about him and his family.
Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Sheduer Sandersalso addressed the controversy. The Buffaloes quarterback suggested that criticism should stop weighing in on Hunter’s personal life.
“All of you athletes, artists, performers, etc., if you are all sincerely trying to come to Trav, you all know how to get in touch with him or anyone around you,” Sanders wrote about Sunday. “At this point, you’re just posting for the algorithm trying to look cool.”
Hunter and Lenee’s engagement was publicly confirmed earlier this year.
Hunter is expected to be one of the top picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
