WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY: Olivia Dunne, a Louisiana State University gymnast, has made headlines because of her massive fan following. Her fan base is bigger than any other college athlete in the United States. Her popularity has allowed her to benefit the most from social media marketing and made her a well-known figure. However, her fans' behavior has become problematic lately, hindering other gymnasts and causing chaotic scenes at game venues. For instance, during one of Dunne's games, her fans disrespected Utah gymnast Jillian Hoffman in front of her mother. Critics laid the blame at Dunne's door for her inability to control her fans.
Despite the backlash, Dunne has maintained her composure. Some critics pointed out that Dunne's online persona may be why such fan fiascos occur. But Dunne addressed these criticisms in an interview with the 'Today' show.
'That's not a woman's responsibility'
Dunne is no stranger to scrutiny regarding her online content. Her popularity has come under fire from some camps, including the esteemed Stanford women's basketball team coach Tara VanDerveer. VanDerveer believes that the trend towards social media popularity, particularly among female athletes, might be a 'step back.'
"I guess sometimes we have this swinging pendulum, where we maybe take two steps forward, and then we take a step back," she told The New York Times in a recent interview. "We're fighting for all the opportunities to compete, to play, to have resources, to have facilities, to have coaches, and all the things that go with Olympic-caliber athletics."
"This is a step back," she added. Dunne told the newspaper she is proud of what she has been able to accomplish. Dunne, resolute in her stance, stated, "As a woman, you're not responsible for how a man looks at you and objectifies you. That's not a woman's responsibility." Her coach, Jay Clarke, is equally supportive of Dunne, noting that an athlete's social media presence has nothing to do with fan hooliganism. He said, "If self-expression and expression are rights in this country, then we must uphold them even if they conflict with our personal beliefs," adding, "I don't believe it sets things back as some fear."
'False sense of accessibility and familiarity'
The incidents regarding Dunne's fan following and their behavior had created an unprecedented stir in the gymnastics community in the United States. With Dunne's massive popularity and celebrity status, it is no surprise that there are some 'toxic' fans in the mix. But can she really be held responsible for their behaviour or should game venues have adequate security to stop things from escalating? Futhermore, Dunne has been proactive in trying to exert her influence to stop her fans from harrassing other athletes. To convey her displeasure with the inappropriate behavior exhibited by her fans, Dunne took to Twitter and urged her fans to be respectful towards other athletes. Her plea received numerous responses, with many of her fans apologizing for their misbehavior.
Acknowledging the recent uproar among fans, Dunne has addressed the real issue at hand and spoken up about what her young followers face. She believes that a "false sense of accessibility and familiarity" is created when followers feel as though they have a personal connection to her. This connection can lead to overzealous behavior on the part of fans, as evident in the LSU games. However, Dunne remains steadfast in her commitment to her sport and her fans, stating that she will continue to use social media as a platform to connect with her supporters.
