Colorado Buffaloes head soccer coach Deion Sanders addressed his former participant Travis Hunter’s choice to deactivate social media accounts in response to feedback about Hunter’s fiancée, Leanna Lenee.
Hunter and Lenee’s Instagram accounts have been deactivated Dec. 23, days after Hunter gained the Heisman Trophy. In the course of the ceremony, social media dialogue in regards to the occasion included a number of harsh criticisms of Hunter and Lenee as a pair. Hunter’s account has since been reactivated.
Sanders gave his response to Hunter’s scenario in an interview on the “Tamron Corridor Present.”
“It harm me that he did,” Sanders stated of Hunter’s deactivation. “What the enemy needs you to do is cease.”
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Sanders criticized Hunter for neglecting the enterprise facet of his choice. As a former faculty and future professional athlete with an NIL valuation of $5.2 million, in keeping with On3.com, Hunter’s social media account exercise is probably going immediately tied to endorsements.
“You’ve got endorsements, you have got those who have sponsored you to speak about their product,” Sanders stated. “We’ve to activate proper now.”
Sanders was additionally important of Hunter for backing down and recommended his response will make him weak to “assaults.”
“When any individual stays nonetheless, now you bought an opportunity to assault, and I hate the stillness of that. Carry on shifting. Do not let the enemy get you when you’re nonetheless and also you’re having a pity social gathering on your self,” Sanders stated, including that is what he advised Hunter in regards to the scenario.
Colorado Buffaloes broad receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter after successful the 2024 Heisman Trophy. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Belief through Imagn Photographs)
Hunter addressed the scenario throughout a Twitch live stream, saying his fiancée cried herself to sleep and drank as a result of backlash.
Lenee beforehand posted a video on her TikTok account in an effort to finish the negativity Dec. 16.
“I’m drained, emotionally and mentally. I’ve seen individuals making an attempt to make me out to be an individual that I’m not,” Lenee stated within the nearly eight-minute clip.
She additionally addressed the negativity about her response to Hunter successful the Heisman Trophy.
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At the very least one social media video appeared to indicate Lenee remaining in her seat moments after Hunter was named the 2024 Heisman recipient. Deion Sanders then appeared to immediate Lenee to face up. Lenee did finally briefly embrace Hunter earlier than rapidly sitting again down through the viewers’s standing ovation.
Different video footage appeared to indicate Lenee remaining seated whereas Hunter greeted and posed for images with followers at an occasion in New York Metropolis the day after the Heisman ceremony. Some followers tried to research Lenee’s demeanor throughout her time on the occasion and even recommended she was irritated.
“When his title was referred to as, I immediately was going to stand up. In case you watch the video, his mother didn’t stand up, so I used to be like, ‘Oh, perhaps I don’t stand up, I simply sit right here,’” she stated. “As quickly as I seen Travis stand up, then I assumed it was acceptable to face up, greet him, congratulate him.
“However then there was a digital camera proper in entrance of Coach Prime, and I knew they have been going to movie that second and, due to how individuals are on-line, I used to be like, ‘I don’t wish to be in that shot.’ So, I sat down.
Deion Sanders and Travis Hunter (12) of the Colorado Buffaloes on the sideline throughout a sport in opposition to North Dakota State Bison at Folsom Area Aug. 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colo. (Ric Tapia/Getty Photographs)
“I obtained out of the digital camera, purposefully, to allow them to have their second. That’s all it was. Nobody advised me to face up. Nobody needed to inform me to rejoice with him. I used to be simply sitting there crying. I wished to take it in. I used to be tremendous excited for him. However I wished the second to be about him and his household.”
Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Sheduer Sanders, has additionally addressed the controversy. The Buffaloes quarterback recommended critics ought to cease weighing in on Hunter’s private life.
“All y’all athletes, entertainers, artist and so on. if y’all real making an attempt to holla at Trav y’all know the best way to get in contact with him or somebody round,” Sanders wrote on X Sunday. “At this level y’all simply posting for the algorithm making an attempt to look cool.”
Hunter and Lenee’s engagement was publicly confirmed earlier this yr.
Hunter is projected to be a prime choice within the upcoming NFL Draft.
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