Colorado Buffaloes two-way participant Travis Hunter and his fiancée Leanna Lenee are going sturdy after the general public controversy over their relationship final month.
Hunter and Lenee stepped away from the highlight and scrubbed their Instagram pages, respectively, after vitriol, which began over Lenee’s demeanor in the course of the broad receiver-cornerback’s Heisman Trophy win on Dec. 14.
The couple returned to the highlight as a united entrance whereas attending Sports activities Illustrated’s annual awards ceremony on the Wynn in Las Vegas, the place Hunter accepted the 2024 Breakout Star of the 12 months honor.
Hunter, 21, wore a black swimsuit and Lenee appeared beautiful in a form-fitting purple robe with a plunging neckline as they smiled and held arms on the purple carpet.
The receiver/cornerback, who’s probably the No. 1 total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, thanked Lenee in his acceptance speech whereas on stage.
“I don’t know the place I’d be this yr with out simply praying each evening with my fiancée,” he mentioned because the digital camera centered on Lenee sitting within the crowd. “I need to thank my household and everbody across the Colorado program.”
It marked the couple’s first public look since many took goal at their relationship over a number of movies through which Lenee appeared offended whereas supporting Hunter on a number of events.
at Sports activities Illustrated’s annual awards ceremony on the Wynn in Las Vegas on January 7, 2025. Hunter accepted the 2024 Breakout Star of the 12 months honor. TikTok/Sports activities Illustrated
Lenee confronted criticism when a video confirmed Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders showing to inform her to face and applaud Hunter when he was introduced the Heisman winner final month.
Hunter later mentioned Lenee obtained drunk and cried herself to sleep over the ridicule.
Earlier than that, some took challenge with Lenee’s demeanor in one other video, which featured her wanting stoic on a sofa whereas Hunter posed for images throughout a meet-and-greet with followers at his personal occasion.
After Hunter deactivated his Instagram account, an older video that appeared to indicate Lenee dancing with one other man surfaced on social media.
Lenee addressed state of affairs in a since-deleted TikTok video late final month, and defined issues have been taken out of context on a number of events.
“The issues that I see individuals make up is really loopy as a result of that’s not what occurred,” she mentioned. “I simply assume persons are discovering each single little factor and making it one thing it’s not. Chicken-brained people are simply accepting what they see on-line.”
Some sports activities personalities, previous and current, urged that Hunter and Lenee ought to’ve been extra non-public about showcasing their relationship on social media.
Hunter and Lenee revealed their engagement in February after going public with their relationship in 2022.