Olivia “Livvy” Dunne saw the chatter online after she appeared to struggle through her “Riders Up” call to begin the 2025 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, a day before the Kentucky Derby.
The former LSU gymnast explained the viral moment on her TikTok with a response to one user who said her introduction to the event “was a tough watch.”
“I couldn’t hear myself because of the echo of the microphone ????,” Dunne, 22, wrote.
She replied “yes” to another user who asked, “Why are people so mean to you?”
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model paused in between her words and kept looking down, as if she was reading from a teleprompter.
Despite having technical issues, Dunne, who is the girlfriend of All-Star Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, looked stunning in a pink dress, which included side cutouts.
It came after Dunne announced her gymnastics retirement following LSU’s loss in the NCAA championships.
The influencer, who is a native of New Jersey, wore a beautiful black and white polka-dot dress also on derby day.
Olympian Simone Biles delivered the “Riders Up” call to start the races at the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday.
Biles, 28, attended the 2025 Kentucky Derby with her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, who was seen filming her as she made the announcement.
The athletes were out and about this past weekend at the Kentucky Derby and Formula 1 in Miami.
NFL stars Joe Burrow and Saquon Barkley and NBA player Kyle Kuzma were all spotted at the festivities in Florida.