From prodigious to proven. Travis Hunter’s tryst with making history as a bona fide two-way unicorn in the NFL is complete. But the traversal was far from linear. In fact, his journey off-field was more twisted and nuanced than the routes he was running on-field. His fiancée, Leanna Lenee, begrudgingly brought about some unwarranted and, frankly, prejudicial negativity towards her. By extension, Travis was also hit with some of the ricocheting shells from the metaphorical gunfire towards Leanna.

When Travis Hunter stepped onto that podium to collect his much-deserved Heisman Trophy, he probably didn’t foresee the biggest day of his life transpiring into his fiancée’s biggest nightmare. What should’ve been a celebratory feat ended up instigating a very hostile hating spree towards Leanna. A small lapse of judgment fanned the flames of a nationwide smear campaign with a horrible premise: Cause a rift between the two. All because Leanna didn’t spring to her feet in applause when Travis was announced as the winner. She came across as passive and uninterested in the TV broadcast while others around her embraced the moment. What was also visible on the broadcast was Deion Sanders having to coerce Leanna into standing up with a sly nudge. Conceded, it wasn’t a great look on Leanna. But the punishment didn’t match the crime. 

Social media erupted with remarks about Leanna Lenee in the wake of the ceremony. There was unfounded, derivative commentary about her having poor intentions and ulterior motives behind being with Travis Hunter. The problem was that a section of Travis fans already had a distaste towards Leanna. Previously, she’d said that Travis wasn’t “her type” and she didn’t warm up to him when they first met. That short episode at the Heisman ceremony just reinvigorated these dormant notions, caused sentiments to boil over, and made a mess. About 6 months on, things have begun to quell. Leanna made a couple of public appearances after avoiding them during that phase. Most notably at the NFL Draft. She has even reinstated her Instagram, which she’d deactivated to protect herself. Normality, or whatever that means for this celebrity couple, is resuming. Now, Leanna has also got some stuff off her chest.

Leanna Lenee had remained pretty much radio silent for the past 4-plus months. But she has thankfully begun to feel comfortable making public comments again. Over on his namesake YouTube channel, Travis Hunter released a video titled “Travis Hunter Draft Day: The Documentary.” It included messages and accounts from members of his family and inner circle. Leanna Lenee was also involved. She spoke about the hardships Travis had to endure during his collegiate career and how they grew together through that adversity. “The number one thing Travis has taught me throughout his college career is to be resilient,” said Leanna to preface a near 90-second monologue. 

“No matter what people said about him. [No matter] how many times he got injured. [Travis Hunter would] get back out there and do his thing every single time. No matter how much hate he received, anything people told him he couldn’t do. He would still go do it. So he probably taught me how to be resilient and to just believe in myself and not listen to what other people say about me or what I’m doing,” resounded Leanna Lenee.

Very subtly, she has addressed the hate she contended over the course of this relationship. But particularly since the Heisman ceremony. More power to her. Travis Hunter, on the other hand, has remained ten toes down throughout. Unwavering in his love and support. 

Travis Hunter and Leanna Lenee see out the turbulence to announce when they’re getting married

After the Heisman ceremony, something similar had also occurred during his Adidas campaign. When Travis Hunter was announced as an ambassador of the iconic three stripes, Leanna was part of the promotional ad. This didn’t go down too well within the vocal minority that dislikes her involvement with him. Something that’s ironically also happening with a different football couple right now. 

In some of the fan-captured videos from this Adidas campaign, Leanna – again- came across a certain way and was perceived as unbothered and passive. She appeared to want to wrap up and leave when Travis was signing autographs for his fans. Through all this turmoil and external noise, the couple has prevailed. They’ve come far enough to announce they’re getting married!

As per ESPN reports, Travis Hunter is getting married to Leanna Lenee later this month. i.e, May 2025. This was revealed on the very night he was drafted to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hopefully, the next chapter of their lives will be less turbulent than this most recent one. As Travis continues to mesmerize with his game, the discourse around his personal life will naturally begin to settle. That said, people’s infatuation with passing unwelcome opinions on strangers’ lives over social media cannot be quantified, nor ceased. Unfortunately, Leanna will have to continue developing a thick skin. Which she is doing, if her aforementioned comments are to go by.