Travis Hunter & fiancée Leanna Lenee make first public appearance together at SI ceremony days after relationship controversy

Travis Hunter and his fiancée Leanna Lenee made a united appearance at the Sports Illustrated awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Tuesday, putting recent social media controversies behind them. The couple walked the red carpet together, as Hunter received the Breakout Star of the Year award.

The public appearance comes after Lenee addressed speculation about her behavior at the recent Heisman ceremony. Social media users questioned her actions when she remained seated, while others stood as Hunter went up on stage to receive the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

Lenee later explained on TikTok that she chose to sit down because Hunter's mother was also seated and she did not want to seem disrespectful.

Hunter, who had an outstanding 2024 season winning multiple awards, stood by his fiancée throughout the controversy. He shared that Lenee had been deeply affected by the online criticism, becoming emotional and upset.

Despite the challenges, including a viral video that showed what appeared to be some tension between the couple after a game, they presented a united front at the SI ceremony.

The former Colorado Buffaloes star's recognition as SI's Breakout Star caps off a remarkable year, though notably, he wasn't nominated as a finalist for the best defensive back in football despite his exceptional performance.

Travis Hunter and Leanna Lenee stepped away from social media following the emergence of old videos

Travis Hunter and his fiancée Leanna Lenee briefly stepped away from social media following the emergence of some old videos after the Heisman Trophy ceremony. The footage, including a three-year-old music video shared by Akademiks TV, showed Lenee dancing at a party.

Despite the online attention, the couple's relationship remains strong as they look toward their future together.

The pair's wedding plans are moving forward for May 2025, shortly after Hunter's anticipated NFL draft selection in April. Lenee has already begun preparations, collaborating with designer Justin Alexander on two custom wedding dresses. The couple got engaged in February and Hunter marked the occasion with a $100,000 ring, according to Sports Illustrated.