It’s no secret that LSU Tigers gymnast is one of the most popular and most influential college athletes in the world right now thanks to her massive social media following that she’s gained due to her willingness to show her body on social media, even if that’s drawn criticism from some. She obviously has a large fanbase, but some fans took it to the extreme.
Following LSU’s recent gymnastics meet against the Utah Utes, the mother of one Utah gymnast told Outkick that fans acted disrespectfully to her daughter.
“As we were walking to the car the group swarmed my daughter and her teammate. They literally said to their faces, ‘you are not Livvy but you will do, can we get a picture?’ [The group] also called my daughter Livvy 2.0. They were so rude and disrespectful,” said Jillian Hoffman’s mom, Jennifer,
A recent viral video shared by women’s gymnastics reporter Samantha Peszek shows a similar situation, showing fans waiting outside the arena aggressively yelling “we want Livvy!” at Peszek as she filmed.
This is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey. I’m embarrassed for them… pic.twitter.com/h23bBdBQ9B
— Samantha Peszek (@samanthapeszek) January 8, 2023
Josh Furlong of KSL.com Sports, described Friday on Twitter that LSU even had to move its team bus due to the crowd of teenage boys.
The situation was so out of control that Olivia Dunne addressed the disrespectful actions on Twitter, pleading with her fans to “be respectful” to fellow gymnasts and the gymnastics community.
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
“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,” Dunne said in a Tweet.
Some of this comes with the territory when you’re as popular as Dunne, but that doesn’t excuse their actions.
[Olivia Dunne, Outkick, ]
