Livvy Dunne Responds to Controversial New York Times Headline
Livvy Dunne, the former LSU gymnast, continues to express her dissatisfaction with a 2022 New York Times article that stirred quite a debate. The article featured a headline proclaiming, “Sex Sells,” which Dunne found particularly troubling.
The piece, titled “New support for university athletes resurfaces old concerns: Sex sells,” depicted Dunne as “a petite blonde with a bright smile and a gymnast tone.” It suggested that marketing in women’s collegiate sports often appeals to traditional ideals of attractiveness and athleticism. This sparked significant criticism from Dunne and others.
During a podcast, Dunne recounted how the newspaper staff insisted on including that controversial headline, adding to her frustration. “They came to the LSU gymnastics facility and told me to wear our team-issued leotards for the photo shoot,” she shared. “Then, they went and displayed those pics, leading to a lot of backlash.” She also noted that she responded to the article in an unexpected way.
Dunne humorously reflected on the situation, saying after the article’s release, she shared a similar photo on her Instagram, captioning it with the very headline they used. “You know what you’re doing,” she remarked regarding the paper’s choice of words.
Her reaction even caught the eye of Sports Illustrated, eventually leading to a modeling opportunity for her. “People really enjoyed my take on it. They thought my response was spot-on,” she said, adding that the attention was a bit overwhelming but exciting.
Looking back, Dunne criticized the initial interview process, calling it “BS.” She explained how the questions felt awkward and unnecessary: “Why did he need to emphasize my looks? You can talk about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) without making it about my appearance.” It was a moment that left her puzzled and frustrated.
Dunne has gained considerable fame on social media, amassing over 8 million followers on TikTok and 5.4 million on Instagram. She led the Tigers to a national championship in 2024 but faced challenges in her final year due to injuries. Now, she finds joy in supporting her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, a player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
