Former LSU gymnast and social media star Olivia Dunne is no stranger to the public eye, but recent events have made her high-profile life a little harder.
In a matter of days, Dunne has endured both personal and public setbacks – ranging from a denied real estate deal to backlash in the stands of an MLB game, all while trying to support her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.
On July 8, Dunne shared a candid TikTok detailing an unexpected blow. She revealed she had been close to purchasing Babe Ruth’s former apartment in New York City and had already started planning the décor for her new life there with Skenes. But to her surprise, the co-op board ultimately denied her application.
“The people in the building voted to not have me live there, which is fine; like, honestly, it wasn’t financial,” she said in the video. Despite her upbeat tone, the disappointment was clear. And that wasn’t the only setback she faced that week.
Later in the week, Dunne traveled to Minneapolis to cheer on Skenes during the Pirates’ game against the Minnesota Twins. Unfortunately, the game didn’t go in their favor. The Twins edged out a narrow 2-1 victory, thanks to a key two-run homer from Trevor Larnach and an impressive outing by pitcher Joe Ryan.
Skenes, despite a solid showing – striking out six batters over five innings and giving up only two runs – was saddled with his eighth loss of the season. He has now gone winless in eight consecutive starts, despite consistently holding opposing teams to two runs or fewer in 17 of his 20 starts.
Jumbotron jokes and online jabs
While the on-field action was frustrating, the spotlight shifted again when a playful moment at Target Field went viral. Dunne was featured on the stadium’s Jumbotron during a “celebrity look-alike” segment, paired with a fan who resembled her.
The crowd erupted in laughter at the coincidence, and Dunne leaned into the fun. She later reposted the video on Instagram, joking, “I guess I see the resemblance.”
However, what should have been a light-hearted interaction quickly spiraled into criticism online. Comments began to pile up, targeting Dunne not for anything she said or did, but simply for being there. “She’s not the main character,” one person commented – a subtle but cutting attempt to diminish her presence.
Another fan, less subtle, wrote, “… do not come to my town,” expressing resentment toward Dunne’s visibility during Skenes’ games. Others went so far as to question her fame altogether, calling her “the most forced celebrity in awhile.”
Even more dismissive were comments like, “I have no idea who this is,” which, while seemingly innocent, underscored a growing frustration with her public persona.
A tough environment away from gymnastics
Dunne, once a celebrated college athlete with roaring crowds behind her, now finds herself in a strange new arena – one where social media attention and public criticism collide and can be brutal.
Despite the negativity, Dunne’s public profile hasn’t faltered. She recently appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, reminding critics that her popularity remains strong.
Yet the latest wave of online scrutiny – centered not on her career but on her presence beside her boyfriend – reveals the challenges of navigating fame at the intersection of sports and celebrity.
For Olivia Dunne, supporting Paul Skenes during his MLB journey may have seemed like a natural move. But lately, it’s come with more backlash than applause – and little public support from Skenes himself, whose focus remains squarely on breaking his winless streak.
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