Sports

Travis Hunter’s Fiancee Addresses Deion Sanders Heisman Controversy

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ESPN


Travis Hunter’s fiancee, Leanna Lenee, is speaking out after receiving backlash this weekend. On Saturday, a video showing Deion Sanders instructing Lenee to stand up after Hunter was named the Heisman winner went viral on social media.

Fans criticized Lenee for not standing up on her own to celebrate Hunter’s big moment.

On Monday, Lenee posted an 8-minute TikTok video addressing all the criticisms fans have against her, including the moment at the Heisman Awards.

“When his name was called, I instantly was going to get up,” Leanna said in the TikTok. “If you watch the video, his mom didn’t get up, so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I don’t get up, I just sit here.’

“As soon as I seen Travis get up, then I thought it was appropriate to stand up, greet him, congratulate him,” she continued. “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 was like, ‘I don’t want to be in that shot,’ so I sat down.”

Lenee said she stayed seated so Hunter could have his moment with Sanders and his family.

“I got out of the 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 was just sitting there crying, I wanted to take it in—I was super excited for him. But I wanted the moment to be about him and his family.”

@leannalenee6

♬ original sound – Leanna ᥫ᭡

Hunter also vehemently defended Lenee in his own video after the Heisman ceremony.

“You ain’t ever had no girl, why do you talk about me? Find something else to talk about. You’re talking about my girl, talk about your girl, go find a girl. Go find a life, quit talking about what I got going on.”