Colorado Buffaloes head football coach Deion Sanders addressed his former player Travis Hunter’s decision to deactivate social media accounts in response to comments about Hunter’s fiancee, Leanna Lenee.
Hunter and Lenee’s Instagram accounts were deactivated on Dec. 23, days after Hunter won the Heisman Trophy. During the ceremony, social media discussion of the event 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,” 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 side of his decision. As a former college 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 tied to endorsements.
“You have endorsements, you have people who have sponsored you to talk about their product,” Sanders said. “We need to activate right now.”
Sanders was also critical of Hunter for backing up, suggesting his response would leave him vulnerable to “attacks”.
“When someone stays still, now you have a chance to attack, and I hate the stillness of it. Keep moving. Don’t let the enemy get you while you’re still and you’re feeling sorry for yourself, ” Sanders said, adding that’s what he told Hunter about the situation.
SHEDEUR SANDERS, TRAVIS HUNTER HAVE LARGEST HAND MARINE INSURANCE IN CFB HISTORY TO COVER THEIR BOWL GAME
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter after winning the 2024 Heisman Trophy. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via Imagn Images)
Hunter addressed the situation during a Twitch live streamingand said his fiance cried himself to sleep and drank because of the backlash.
Lenee previously posted a video on her TikTok account in an attempt to end the negativity on December 16.
“I’m tired, emotionally and mentally. I’ve seen people trying to make me into someone that I’m not,” Lenee said in the nearly eight-minute clip.
She also addressed the negativity surrounding her response to Hunter winning The Heisman Trophy.
At least one video on social media showed Lenee remaining in her seat moments after Hunter was named the 2024 Heisman recipient. Deion Sanders seemed to make Lenee stand up. At the end, Lenee hugged Hunter briefly before quickly settling down to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Other video footage appeared to show Lenee remaining seated while Hunter greeted and posed for photos with fans at an event in New York City the day after the Heisman ceremony. Some fans tried to analyze Lenee’s behavior during her time at the event and even suggested that she was annoyed.
“When his name was called, I immediately wanted to get up. If you watch the video, his mom didn’t get up, so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m not getting up, I’m just sitting here,'” she said. “As soon as I saw Travis stand up, 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 that moment, and because of how people are online, I thought, ‘I don’t want to be in that picture.’ 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, Colo. (Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
“I came off camera, purposefully, so they can have their moment. That’s all it was. No one told me to stand up. No one had to tell me to celebrate with him. I sat just cried. I wanted to take it in. I was super excited for him, but I wanted the moment to be about him and his family.
Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Sheds Sandershas also addressed the dispute. The Buffaloes quarterback suggested that critics should stop weighing in on Hunter’s personal life.
“All you athletes, entertainers, artists, etc., if you are sincerely trying to pay tribute to Trav, you all know how to get in touch with him or anyone around.” Sanders signed X Sunday. “At this point, you’re just writing according to the algorithm and trying to look cool.”
Hunter and Lenee’s engagement was publicly confirmed earlier this year.
Hunter is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
