Olivia “Livvy” Dunne, the former LSU gymnastics star turned social media influencer, recently went viral after claiming she was denied the opportunity to purchase a historic Upper West Side apartment once owned by baseball legend Babe Ruth.
However, new accounts from residents and building insiders paint a very different picture, one that suggests her story may be more style than substance.
Dunne‘s enthusiastic social media post, which included a video celebrating her “bought a nyc apt” moment, instantly caught attention.
But what was meant to be a celebratory announcement has instead sparked controversy and skepticism. According to a long-serving building worker familiar with the situation, Dunne‘s version of events omits key details.
“I think she’s making a lot of stuff up to get people to feel sorry for her,” the worker told The New York Post, explaining that Dunne likely never advanced far enough in the co-op process to even be officially rejected.
Co-op boards in New York City are notoriously selective, with rigorous interviews, financial vetting, and multiple steps required before approval. According to the worker, Dunne hadn’t completed these steps at all.
“She had another probably six, seven weeks worth of interviewing and checking her finances and stuff like that. She didn’t even get that far,” the building staff member explained, contradicting Dunne‘s narrative that she was on the verge of receiving keys.
Local residents raise concerns about influencer lifestyle and neighborhood fit
Even if Dunne had made it further into the process, neighbors say her highly public persona may have clashed with the culture of the quiet, residential area near Riverside Park. Some suggest her social media lifestyle simply wasn’t compatible with the neighborhood’s understated vibe.
“She’s sparkly! She doesn’t belong here,” said Monica Rosenberg, a longtime local resident. While Rosenberg acknowledged Dunne‘s right to stand out, she added that the influencer may find the Upper West Side lifestyle too tame for her brand. “She can walk her dog in Riverside Park five times a day, and then she’ll say this is very boring,” she added.
Dunne, who is dating Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and has become a fixture in the influencer and NIL world, is no stranger to fame. However, in the highly selective realm of New York City co-op boards, celebrity doesn’t always open doors. In fact, it can close them.
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