‘We want Livvy’: Did young Olivia Dunne fans cross a line at Utah-LSU gymnastics meet? (2024)

Teenage boys cheered, chanted and held poster board signs for high-profile gymnast Olivia Dunne in the Huntsman Center last Friday — even though the Louisiana State star wasn’t competing against the Utah Red Rocks, due to an injury.

Dunne has more followers on social media than any other college athlete in the country, counting more than 9.5 million across TikTok, Instagram and Twitter. Her online presence is reportedly worth more than $2.5 million in name, image and likeness, or NIL, endorsements.

After the meet, more than 50 boys waited for the 20-year-old to come out of the center’s tunnel to the team bus, with many chanting “Livvy! Livvy! Livvy!” As a camera moved closer, several of the boys shouted fiercely, “Give us Livvy!” and “We want Livvy! We want her!”

This is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey. I’m embarrassed for them… pic.twitter.com/h23bBdBQ9B

— Samantha Peszek (@samanthapeszek) January 8, 2023

ESPN sideline reporter Samantha Peszek filmed and posted a video of the scene with the caption, “This is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey (sic). I’m embarrassed for them...”

The video went viral and, in the days since, has sparked criticism and debate about the crowd’s behavior and whether it crossed a line.

“That video was kind of terrifying,” said Maile O’Keefe, a senior on the Utah team. “Even some of my teammates said that when they were leaving the arena, they were getting harassed by them [saying] ‘You’re not Livvy, where’s Livvy? Oh my gosh, give me Livvy.’ So that’s just kind of a scary aspect to the fact that these young men or boys are already kind of perceiving their actions as OK.”

Kathy Johnson Clarke, an ESPN and SEC Network gymnastics commentator, said the scene inside and outside the Huntsman Center was atypical. “This was shocking and unanticipated for us,” Clarke said.

But it wasn’t a surprise to everyone.

Utah coach Tom Farden said the Utah program was aware of Dunne’s popularity and had extra measures in place, including a plan to get her out of the arena without having to deal with a crowd of fans.

“Every stop she makes it is like a rock star,” he said. “Wherever [the LSU Tigers] go next, they need to be prepared.”

The new level of celebrity for student athletes raises safety issues, he said.

“In terms of keeping the athletes safe, this is a new phenomenon with the NIL and social media and we are trying to do our part to realize what is going on and navigate through this landscape,” Farden said. U. gymnast Grace McCallum “has a lot of followers, too,” he noted, “and there is something to that brand power.”

‘They were drawing attention away’

Dunne’s only public comments about the incident have come on Twitter. On Sunday, she wrote, “I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job.”

I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job❤️

— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) January 8, 2023

LSU did not respond to a request for further comment, but head coach Jay Clark told WAFB 9Sports in Baton Rouge that the fans who were screaming for Dunne were distracting.

“They made themselves very, very much part of the environment,” Clark said. “And they were drawing attention away from what was going on on the floor. They were constant inopportune noise coming from where they were and they moved around an awful lot in the arena.”

Other gymnasts said they felt disrespected by what they deemed a disruptive atmosphere at the meet.

“It’s disappointing that those people kind of disrespect the athletes and that’s never nice to see,” Utah sophomore gymnast Amelie Morgan told Fox 13. “She’s just like us, she’s another gymnast, another teammate. She’s doing exactly the same thing.

“She must love the support and she’s done amazing for herself, but when there’s disrespectful comments it’s kind of a shame, especially when you’re working hard to perform for those fans.”

The SEC Network’s Clarke, a former Olympic gymnast, said the situation at the Red Rocks meet should be a “teachable moment” for the boys at the meet and other new fans to the sport.

“They are not just pretty women with leotards. These are athletes,” Clarke said. “They are doing an athletic event. They are competing. They have earned college scholarships. And now with NIL, they have responsibilities with contracts. They are being professional. That’s what they are.”

LSU’s coach said, “Liv wants to take the time, and we want to allow her and all of our student athletes, to have time to interact with fans and those kinds of things.” But after the meet, among the boys waiting for Dunne to leave the arena, “there was a level of intensity that … I just found to be inappropriate,” Clark said.

There was “a mob-like kind of feel to that out there,” he said, “and that was disconcerting to me as someone who takes the responsibility for the welfare of our kids.”

‘A celebrity crush’

One 15-year-old who went to the meet told The Salt Lake Tribune he had followed Dunne on TikTok and hoped she would follow him back. “It’s almost like a celebrity crush,” the boy’s mother said in an interview. The Tribune has decided to not identify the underage boys.

The teen and about 10 of his friends attended with his twin sister and his parents. The teens cheered loudly during and after the meet, they said. At one point, the teens moved to the top of the arena with other boys who had gathered there so they wouldn’t disturb other fans too much, the mother said.

“They’re just teenage boys having fun,” she said. “I just don’t think at any time it was overly disrespectful. They did what they were asked to do. They didn’t cause any problems.”

Dunne took a selfie with a group of boys, including the 15-year-old and his friends, after the meet. She also gave him the follow on TikTok he’s been wanting for months, and he posted about it.

Then the 15-year-old and his friends and family awoke Saturday morning to comments describing boys who attended the meet as “creepy” and calling the behavior of the group “disgusting” or “embarrassing.”

The backlash surprised them — and has led them to reflect on the night, they said.

“We like Livvy,” the 15-year-old said. “We wouldn’t do anything wrong. … She’s famous. It’s like what you would see at a Justin Bieber concert or something.”

Still, he said, he now feels like boys at the meet “could have been a lot more respectful. When you get a big group of like teenagers like that, it can get a little out of hand. And I understand boys can maybe sound a little more aggressive, or ... it seems a little more threatening.”

His mother added: “We’re terribly sorry that people were offended, and that if it distracted the gymnasts, we would make sure it didn’t happen again. That was not our intent, and we do apologize for that.”

The 15-year-old and his parents were present outside the arena after the meet, too. The mother said it appeared as though the large group of boys who gathered there became more rambunctious when they realized someone was taking video of them.

The 15-year-old said he will “probably not” attend any more Red Rocks gymnastic meets, largely due to the social media reaction. But one of his friends feels differently.

“The meets are fun,” the 14-year-old said. “I think I wouldn’t mind going to more meets at the U., just to actually watch the gymnasts.”

Reporter Lya Wodraska contributed to this story.

‘We want Livvy’: Did young Olivia Dunne fans cross a line at Utah-LSU gymnastics meet? (2024)

FAQs

How good at gymnastics is Olivia Dunne? ›

How good is Olivia Dunne at gymnastics? Dunne has established herself as a respected gymnast at LSU, excelling primarily in the uneven bars. While not reaching the highest echelon globally, she's earned recognition as an All-American with a career-high score of 9.925.

What happened to Olivia Dunne at Utah? ›

The incident Dunne refers to occurred during a competition at the University of Utah. While Dunne was injured at the time, a group of young men gathered outside the building and chanted for her, causing chaos and concern for her safety.

What events does Livvy Dunne do for LSU? ›

This year, she competed on bars and floor for the Tigers, appearing in nine meets and earning season highs of 9.875 and 9.900 on the two events. Dunne's decision ultimately came down to the fact that she feels like she has more to give to the sport, both on and off the competition floor.

Why didn t Olivia Dunne compete? ›

She didn't make the starting rotation previously this season as the Tigers were one of the top teams in the nation all season with depth. She missed most of last season with a variety of injuries. On a non-top five team this season, Dunne would probably compete in every meet. But LSU is obviously loaded.

Is Livvy Dunne done with gymnastics? ›

Livvy Dunne isn't done yet at LSU. On Monday, the LSU gymnastics star announced she is staying in Baton Rouge for a fifth and final season. The announcement came in a hype video released by LSU's gymnastics program on X (formerly Twitter).

Why does Olivia Dunne make so much money? ›

How does Olivia Dunne make so much money? Dunne's income is primarily from NIL deals with fashion brands like American Eagle, Forever 21 and Vuori. “Fashion has always been a huge passion of mine,” Dunne, who signed with the WME Sports agency, told Forbes.

Where does Olivia Dunne get her money? ›

Olivia Dunne is an American college gymnast who became a millionaire by showing off her skills with videos on TikTok and amassed millions of followers that helped her get brands interested in partnering with her to promote their products.

Does Livvy Dunne fly private? ›

Livvy Dunne flaunts private jet to MLB All-Star Game: awesome summer continues.

What nationality is Olivia Dunne? ›

Olivia Paige "Livvy" Dunne (born October 1, 2002) is an American artistic gymnast and social media personality.

Is Livvy Dunne an all American? ›

Dunne was named an All-American on the uneven bars in 2021 and sports a career-best mark of 9.925 on that apparatus. She has logged that score twice, first against Alabama during her freshman season in 2021 and then against Centenary as a sophomore in 2022.

How much does LSU gymnast make? ›

Olivia Dunne is the highest-paid female athlete in the NCAA with an estimated valuation of roughly $3.5 million annually, according to On3's tracker for name, image, and likeness, or NIL. This year alone, the Louisiana State University gymnast worked with ESPN, BodyArmor, Sports Illustrated, and Motorola.

Why does Olivia Dunne have so many fans? ›

She joined the social media platform TikTok in 2020 and signed to LSU in the same year. Since then, Dunne gained almost 7 million followers on Tiktok and 4 million followers on Instagram. In her athletic career, she's gained three NCAA Tournament appearances and a Southeastern Conference Championship title.

Does Olivia Dunne have a bf? ›

Is Olivia Dunne in a relationship? Yes! She's dating Paul Skenes, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Livvy and Paul first met through mutual acquaintances as student-athletes at LSU, according to People.

What injury does Olivia Dunne have? ›

In a brief conversation with SportsCenter, Olivia Dunne once narrated her encounter with injury in gymnastics. I've dealt with shoulder pain, torn labrums, shin splints, shin pain, stress fractures, broken ankles,” she confessed.

Is Olivia Dunne an Olympian? ›

Many of Olivia Dunne's followers were stunned when it came to light that the LSU Tigers' senior gymnast was excluded from the U.S. team for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite her short career, she has already shown she deserves to be mentioned alongside elite gymnasts like Simone Biles.

Who got a perfect 10 in gymnastics? ›

Nadia Elena Comăneci Conner (née Comăneci; born November 12, 1961) is a Romanian retired gymnast. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist, all in individual events. In 1976, at the age of 14, Comăneci was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games.

Is Simone Biles good at gymnastics? ›

Editor's note: Simone Biles and the U.S. women's gymnastics team won the Olympic gold medal in the team final. PARIS — The U.S. women's gymnastics team used to joke about a non-Simone Biles division, an acknowledgement that Biles is so much better than everyone else that no one could beat her.

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