Former LSU gymnast and social media sensation Livvy Dunne has continued to express her frustration with The New York Times for its 2022 article titled ‘New Endorsements for College Athletes Resurface an Old Concern: Sex Sells,’ which she claims misrepresent her as a college athlete and reduced her to a stereotype based on her appearance. The article, published in November 2.002, argued that the increasing prominence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for women’s college athletes rewards traditional feminine desirability over athletic performance. Dunne, who has become one of the most-followed athletes on social media with over 8 million followers on TikTok and 5.4 million on Instagram, recounted her experience with the media outlet in an interview on the ‘What’s Your Story?’ podcast.
Dunne revealed that journalists from The New York Times allegedly asked her to wear her team-issued outfit, a leotard, and stand in front of the gymnastics beam—an ordinary pose for any gymnast—before taking photos. She alleged that the publication then digitally manipulated the image, blowing it up on their screen and pairing it with the headline ‘Sex Sells,’ which she found offensive and misleading. The article’s focus on her physical appearance over her athletic credentials sparked strong backlash, not just from Dunne but from many readers who felt the portrayal was unfair and reductive.
In response, Dunne decided to mock the New York Times’ editorial choice by posting the same image on her Instagram story but changing the caption to ‘At The New York Times, is this too much?’ The post received overwhelming positive feedback, with many supporting her stance that the article’s focus was inappropriate. This backlash, in turn, led to a modeling invite from Sports Illustrated, which Dunne called one of her long-standing dreams. She shared her excitement about the opportunity, noting that it was a significant milestone for her career and a validation of her presence in the sports world.
Dunne has not only criticized the article but also the interview process. During a 2023 interview on the ‘Full Send Podcast,’ she described the experience as bizarre, saying the reporter asked ‘weird’ and ‘odd’ questions that seemed to focus more on her personal attributes than on her athletic achievements. She emphasized that the questions were unnecessarily loaded and that the article’s overall tone was a misrepresentation of her role as an athlete. This critique highlights her broader frustration with how media outlets often reduce athletes to their aesthetics rather than their skills and contributions to their sport.
In addition to her social media presence, Dunne has made a significant impact on the sports world. Her success with LSU, including helping the team win the national championship in 2024, has solidified her reputation as a dominant force in collegiate gymnastics. However, her final season at LSU was cut short due to injury, an event that she has openly discussed. She has since been a prominent figure in online spaces, often using her platform to critique media portrayal and advocate for greater recognition of athletes’ achievements beyond their appearances.
Dunne’s recent involvement in cheering on her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, as he excels with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball, signals her continued presence in the sports world. Her ability to balance her athletic career with her social media influence highlights her unique position in modern sports culture, where athletes often find themselves in the eye of public scrutiny and media attention. As she continues to make waves in both areas, Dunne remains an advocate for a more nuanced and respectful portrayal of athletes in the media space.