This wasn’t precisely Olivia “Livvy” Dunne’s one shining second.
The previous LSU gymnast and girlfriend of Pirates ace Paul Skenes was in attendance on the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, Friday, a day earlier than the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and arrange the day’s races with the “Riders up” announcement.
However the normally charismatic Dunne got here throughout flat.
“Kentucky Oaks followers, now for the annual custom we’ve all been wanting ahead to: Riders up,” Dunne stated.
All through the one-sentence announcement, she stored wanting down, as if studying from a cue card or teleprompter. Additionally, the gang let Dunne down as there was no response on the conclusion of her stay TV second.
Folks have been fast to critique Dunne on social for what one commenter described as a “cringe” second, which was seen seven million instances in NBC Sports activities’ tweet as of early Sunday afternoon.
“Are you able to think about how lengthy it might take for her and paul to do a puzzle,” an X consumer posted.
“The intonation of a wooden plank,” one other stated.
One particular person added: “I’ve been to funerals extra hype than this.”
“Why she wanting down a lot can she not keep in mind 2 sentences,” one stated on X.
Somebody responded and stated, “it was just one sentence” and the inital consumer quipped, “was tryna throw Liv a bone.”
Nevertheless, the incident didn’t deter Dunne from returning on Saturday for the Derby, through which she surprised in a white gown with black polka dots and black mesh protecting the highest portion, and naturally with an identical hat.
She didn’t seem to have some other announcement duties on the large occasion, which was a primary for the previous gymnast.
Dunne put an finish to her gymnastics chapter in April when LSU completed the season in third place within the NCAA semifinals.
She turned one of many early faces of faculty athletics’ NIL period, constructing an NIL valuation reportedly value over $4 million.
