Pittsburgh Pirates player Paul Skenes made headlines not only for his performance in the MLB All-Star Game, but also for a gesture that some found romantic and others simply unnecessary. During the event’s red carpet, the baseball star kneeled down to tie the shoe of his girlfriend, gymnast and influencer Olivia Dunne, an act that quickly triggered a wave of mixed reactions across social media.
Though the moment was shared by the official MLB account and framed as a display of chivalry, many online users voiced their frustration over the type of content the league chooses to promote. Some of the most blunt comments included: “Why did MLB post this?”, “Can we just stick to baseball posts, please?”, “She can bend basically in half but can’t tie her own shoe?”, “Something tells me she staged this,” and the ever-dismissive, “No one cares.”
Is Romance Going Extinct?
For some, gestures like these reflect tenderness and old school charm. For others, they feel forced or overly staged prompting comparisons to the highly publicized relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Some users claimed that MLB is “trying to create soap operas” instead of focusing on the sport itself.
But not all feedback was negative. Others came to Skenes’ defense, with comments such as: “A true GENTLEMAN. More should take notes,”“That’s a good gentlemanly thing to do. Keep it up and good job Skenes’ parents,” and “Baseball is for everyone, including the GIRLIES,” referencing the growing fanbase drawn to the sport by viral figures like Skenes and Shohei Ohtani.
A Couple That Gets People Talking
Skenes and Dunne met at Louisiana State University (LSU) and have been in a relationship for at least two years. Since then, they’ve received both praise and criticism. Dunne, in addition to being a gymnast, has become one of the most-followed influencers in the sports world, a fact that also causes friction among more traditional baseball fans.
Why does public love make people so uncomfortable?
One thing is clear: in an age where private moments go public with a single click, even the smallest romantic gestures can stir controversy. In a time when chivalry is often seen as outdated or even fake Paul Skenes stands his ground, showing that there are still those who believe in the power of little things.
And though negative comments were quick to surface, the couple appeared smiling and confident in their bond. At the end of the day, as is often the case with fame, the higher one climbs, the louder the critics but also, the bigger the audience that admires.
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