Deion Sanders, 58, recently made it official that he is dating Karrueche Tran, 37, after months of avoiding the topic publicly. The confirmation instantly put Deion Sanders back in the celebrity relationship spotlight, with fans dissecting timelines, past connections, and what this romance really means.
The attention grew louder when popular radio personality Gary Hayes weighed in, pointing to Karrueche Tran’s past friendship with Tracey Edmonds, Deion Sanders’ ex girlfriend. According to Hayes, that detail changes how some people view the relationship.
Deion Sanders Relationship Talk Sparks Debate on Rickey Smiley’s Podcast
On Rickey Smiley’s podcast, popular radio personality Gary Hayes weighed in on Deion Sanders’ new relationship with Karrueche Tran, and his comments quickly fueled conversation online. Hayes centered his discussion on the long standing connection between Karrueche Tran and Deion Sanders’ ex fiancée, Tracey Edmonds, a link that has raised eyebrows among fans.
According to Hayes, “Tracey and Karrueche were good friends,” adding that, “Tracey gave Karrueche a job. Put her in a, a TV show, a movie… and now she’s with the woman’s ex boyfriend.”
That professional connection is well documented. Tracey Edmonds, a producer, hired Karrueche Tran for a role in the BET series Games People Play, helping advance Tran’s acting career and opening doors in television.
The situation became more complicated when rumors surfaced about timing and honesty. As shared publicly by Claudia Jordan, a friend of Edmonds, Tracey allegedly asked Karrueche directly if she was dating Deion Sanders, and Karrueche reportedly denied it.
The revelation came later when Karrueche Tran and Deion Sanders were seen publicly as a couple. That visibility sparked controversy, especially given that Tran was often seen by Deion’s side during his cancer battle, which intensified accusations that she may have lied to Edmonds. The online chatter grew so loud that it attracted much criticism through social media posts.
Still, Hayes was clear on one key point, saying Karrueche had nothing to do with Deion Sanders and Tracey Edmonds breaking up. “They didn’t break up because of Karrueche. They had their own issues.”
Hayes’ shade focused more on timing, suggesting Karrueche getting involved with Deion Sanders was too soon after the breakup. He also mentioned their age gap, noting, “Deion is only 58 and Karrueche’s only 37,” and added, “The kids are already calling her stepmom and they not even married yet they already saying my stepmom.”
Despite the raised eyebrows and subtle jabs, Hayes ended on a cordial note. “But anyway, congratulations.”
Gary Hayes made it clear that while Deion Sanders and Karrueche Tran are free to move how they want, the overlapping friendships, timing, and optics are why this relationship keeps getting side eyed.