Travis Hunter, the Colorado football star and recent Heisman Trophy winner, and his fiancée, Leanna Lenee, have faced relentless public scrutiny over their relationship in recent weeks. One former NFL player, Nate Burleson, has weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the couple’s openness about their personal life on social media has contributed to the backlash they’ve received.
Burleson, who played 11 seasons in the NFL and is now an analyst for CBS, told TMZ that Hunter and Leanna needed to reconsider how much they share publicly.
Burleson’s Take on the Situation
“It’s everybody else’s business because that couple put it out there,” Burleson said. “You can’t complain when people respond. That’s social media. You can’t say, ‘Mind your own business’ or ‘Keep your opinion to yourself,’ when you’ve shared so much with everybody.”
Burleson’s comments come after weeks of criticism aimed at Leanna following several viral videos and online commentary. One incident occurred during the Heisman Trophy ceremony, where social media users accused her of being reluctant to stand when Hunter’s name was announced as the winner.
Leanna Explains the Heisman Controversy
In a TikTok video last week, Leanna addressed the criticism, explaining her hesitation to stand during the ceremony.
“When his name was called, I instantly was going to get up—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,’” she said. “As soon as I saw Travis get up, then I thought it was appropriate to stand up, greet him, congratulate him.”
Leanna added that she intentionally avoided stepping into the spotlight during the moment, aware of how it might be perceived online.
“There was a camera right in front of Coach Prime [Deion Sanders], and I knew they were going to film that moment,” she said. “Because of how people are online, I was like, I don’t want to be in that shot, so I sat down.”
Hunter Defends Leanna
Hunter himself has come to Leanna’s defense multiple times, including during a live Twitch stream. The young athlete has been vocal about his support for his fiancée, standing by her as the couple faces ongoing scrutiny.
Burleson’s Perspective
While Burleson acknowledged the challenges of being in a public relationship, he also empathized with Hunter’s urge to defend Leanna. Reflecting on his own experience, Burleson recalled how people assumed his wife, Atoya, was with him only because of his NFL aspirations.
“She was the trophy way before I started chasing them in the NFL,” Burleson said. “That could be the case in Travis’ relationship. I don’t know. All I know is, give them both grace. They’re young! They’ll figure it out.”
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The Challenges of Public Relationships
Hunter and Leanna’s relationship has become a lightning rod for discussion, with every interaction and social media post dissected by fans and critics alike. Burleson’s advice highlights the balance young public figures must strike between sharing their lives and maintaining privacy.
For Hunter, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the scrutiny is unlikely to fade anytime soon. However, as Burleson pointed out, both Hunter and Leanna are navigating a complex and public relationship while still figuring out life at a young age.
“Social media amplifies everything,” Burleson concluded. “But at the end of the day, they’re just two people trying to make it work. They deserve the space and grace to do that.”
As the young couple continues to face public attention, the hope is that they’ll learn how to manage their relationship and personal lives while staying focused on their future.
