Olivia Dunne has put out a tweet in which she’s asked her fans to be respectful to other competitors following a disturbing turn of events at LSU’s season-opening meet.
The college gymnast had no shortage of supporters at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, with her program having gone up against Utah. However, other gymnasts ended up being abused by certain persons in the crowd.
According to former Olympic gymnast Samantha Peszek, her daughter was one of the victims.
“This is actually so scary and disturbing and cringey. I’m embarrassed for them…,” Peszek wrote, via Outkick.
“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, who added that her daughter and teammates were not “harassed, assaulted or harmed in anyway.”
Olivia took to Twitter on Sunday to make a plea to her fans, asking them to be respectful to all competitors.
Olivia’s mom had to speak up in her defense following Friday’s meet as the 23-year-old has been blamed for the unruly behavior exhibited by fans.
Things got pretty rowdy at the aforementioned location and the LSU contingent needed a police escort to get out.
Olivia, who is the most followed college athlete on social media, is also the highest-paid, with a value of $2.3 million attached to her name.
