Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, 57, recently revealed that he had been battling bladder cancer and underwent successful surgery to remove it. This news came as a shock not only to the public but also to his sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders. Sanders explained in a press conference that he kept his health struggles private from his sons to allow them to concentrate on their football careers and team selections, rather than worrying about his physical condition.
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“My daughters do [know] and this joker right here, much love to my son, [Deion Sanders] Jr., who have not left my side since [knowing],” Sanders said at the press conference as he explained how he is slowly regaining his strength
However, what has truly rocked the sports world is not the renowned coach and athlete’s discussion of his cancer recovery, but rather, the identity of his current partner. Allow us to explain.
A video circulating on social media shows actress Karrueche Tran, 37, by Coach Prime’s side in the hospital shortly before his scheduled surgery. In the clip, Tran appears tearful as she looks at Sanders, who remains calm and tells the camera he is texting his sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders. He expresses excitement for their first day of practice.
The full clip comes from Deion Sanders Jr.’s production company, Well Off Media, and is the first part of a docuseries about Deion Sanders’ recovery from bladder cancer, according to PEOPLE. It has added fuel to the rumors that the pair have been dating after they were seen having lunch together months earlier, according to TMZ.
However, fans in the comments were still in shock seeing Karrueche by Sanders’ side, and especially shocked by the 21-year age gap between them.
“This is so random,” wrote one user.
“Coach, I wasn’t familiar with your game!!! God keeps blessing big dawg!!! I’m barking for your recovery,” wrote another.
“I’m cracking tf up at Deion Sanders and Karrueche dating. That’s funny as s*** to me cuz he looks like he could be her damn ‘pop pop’ in this video,” tweeted another user.
While some fans expressed amusement at the news, others expressed their distaste for the couple:
“You [Karrueche], 38 [37] childless woman, dealing with a sickly 56 [57]-year-old Deion Sanders with his 4+ kids, two ex-wives. A job will give you more financial stability than dealing with that,” posted one user.
Another user asked, “Karrueche, what the hell are you doing with some Deion Sanders?”
But some users didn’t understand what the fuss was all about, especially since Karrueche is a grown woman, almost middle age and with a full life behind her.
One commenter said, “The comments worried about them dating and not the fact that coach Sanders has beeb confirmed to have Cancer? The world is an off place. Karrueche is overly grown, not a teenager, not a 20-something, not even freshly 30, with her own freshly life and money. She can date who she wants.”
Very few, but some, fans tried to bring the news back to Deion Sanders’ cancer diagnosis:
“I think it’s very f***** up that we find out Deion Sanders has cancer and all y’all can talk about is the age gap between him and Karrueche… humanity is lost,” wrote one user.
“America is a country where Deion Sanders is literally preparing for life-altering surgery, but everyone is more concerned about Karrueche being by his side like what lmao,” wrote another.
Others were just annoyed she was telling all his business.
As for Coach Prime, he has not addressed any rumors about his love life, and neither has Karrueche. Instead of falling into the hype about who he is dating, Sanders simply posted a picture of himself at the press conference with the caption, “God is Good,” and left it at that.
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