The Moment
We have reached the point where a custody battle isn’t just about holidays and bedtimes – it’s about Instagram.
According to recent court filings described in a January 2026 sports news report, boxing star Devin Haney and his ex-fiancée Leena Sayed are back in court over their 1-year-old daughter, Khrome. This time, the issue isn’t money or visitation. It’s whether Leena can post their child on social media without Devin signing off first.
When the pair set up their custody arrangement in October 2025, they reportedly agreed on a strict rule: no photos of their daughter online unless both parents gave written consent. Now, Leena is asking a judge to modify that, saying Devin is using the rule in a way that’s so restrictive she can barely post their child at all.
In her filing, she reportedly points to specific examples: a cute matching-pajamas photo she says Devin effectively vetoed, versus a photo of their daughter watching him fight in Saudi Arabia that he allowed – and even reshared on his own account. In a written statement to the court, she argues that showing Khrome on her social media is important to her and that Devin’s approval is being “unduly withheld” without a judge stepping in.
A hearing is set for later this month, and as of now, Leena’s legal team has not publicly commented. Devin hasn’t publicly weighed in either.
Devin Haney’s Ex Files To Change Custody Order, Wants To Post Child On Social Media https://t.co/Ff6H0dMDx6 pic.twitter.com/8UXaDEU3Td
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 10, 2026
The Take
I’ll be honest: a “no baby pics unless both parents sign off in writing” rule sounds extreme at first… until you remember this isn’t just your cousin’s Facebook, it’s two public figures with massive followings, sponsors, and critics watching every move.
Still, what they’re really fighting over here isn’t just a selfie. It’s control of their child’s digital identity. Who decides if a 1-year-old becomes content? The mom who says, “She’s part of my life, I want to share her,” or the dad who seems to prefer their child only appears online when it boosts his narrative – like cheering for him from the couch during a big fight?
This is the new frontier of co-parenting. Our generation grew up with baby photos stuffed in shoeboxes. Today’s kids are growing up with baby photos stuffed into the algorithm. And once an image of your child is out there, it’s out there – screenshots, reposts, fan pages, the works.
From the outside, the pattern Leena describes feels… convenient. No matching-pajamas mom-and-baby post, but yes to the “supportive daughter watching Dad’s big moment” shot that gets reshared by a world champion? It’s like turning your kid’s image into a promotional asset instead of a memory.
But here’s the complication: there is a real safety and privacy argument for strict rules. Haney is a famous athlete. High-profile figures get threats. Some parents in that world simply do not want their child’s face online at all, and that’s not paranoia, that’s protection.
So the analogy here? This isn’t a custody fight over a car or a house. It’s a custody fight over a camera roll. Both parents think they’re the better steward of how that camera roll goes public.
My take: a blanket veto that mysteriously melts away only when the post flatters the famous parent is a bad look. But so is building a brand around your baby before they’re old enough to say, “Actually, Mom, I don’t want 3 million people seeing me in pajamas.” If the court is smart, it sets a clear standard that centers the child’s long-term privacy, not either parent’s feed aesthetics.
Receipts
Confirmed:
- Recent court filings, as described in a January 10, 2026 sports news report, say Leena Sayed has asked a judge to modify the existing custody order so she can post their 1-year-old child on social media without needing Devin Haney’s prior written approval.
- The prior agreement, tied to an October 2025 custody order, required both parents to give written consent before posting images of their child online.
- In her filing, Sayed cites examples including a denied request to share a matching-pajamas photo and an approved post of their child watching Haney fight in Saudi Arabia, which he reportedly reposted.
- Sayed’s written statement in the filing says her child’s representation on her social media is important to her and that she believes Devin’s approval is being “unduly withheld” without judicial intervention.
- A court hearing on the issue is scheduled for later this month.
Unverified / Not publicly confirmed:
- Any private conversations between Haney and Sayed beyond what is summarized in the filing. We only know what’s been quoted or paraphrased.
- Haney’s specific reasons or motivations for denying or approving particular photos; he has not publicly commented.
- How often each parent actually posts the child in day-to-day life outside the examples raised in the court documents.
Backstory (For Casual Readers)
If you’re not deep in the boxing world: Devin Haney is a top-tier American boxer who has held multiple world titles in the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions, with a polished, defensive style that’s made him both praised and picked apart by fans. His ex-fiancée, Leena Sayed, is a model and influencer who’s built a following online. The pair share a young daughter, Khrome, and like many modern celebrity couples, their relationship has played out partly in public – from glamorous posts to a very real, very offline breakup. Their current dispute isn’t about who gets the child when; it’s about how much of that child’s life ends up on the internet.
What’s Next
The immediate next step is the scheduled hearing later this month, where a judge will decide whether to keep the original “joint written consent” rule, scrap it, or rewrite it with clearer guardrails. That ruling could quietly become a reference point for other celebrity co-parents facing the same social media tug-of-war.
Things to watch for:
- Any public statement from Haney or his team explaining his side of the privacy agreement.
- Leena’s response after the hearing – especially whether she frames this as a win for moms, for influencers, or for her daughter.
- Whether the court sets boundaries on what can be posted (faces, locations, or commercial tie-ins) rather than simply saying “yes” or “no” to all child content.
Bigger picture, this case is a flashing neon sign for where we’re all headed: grandparents want photos, parents want followers, kids have no vote – yet. Courts are starting to be dragged into the middle of that mess.
Your turn: When parents don’t agree, who should have the final say on posting a child online – one parent, both parents, or should the default be no posting at all?
Sources (accessed January 2026): Recent sports news report summarizing Leena Sayed’s custody-related court filing regarding social media posts of her child (Jan. 10, 2026); publicly available boxing records and athlete profiles for Devin Haney providing career and background context.
Comments