Livvy Dunne is setting the record straight after her viral "Riders Up" moment at the Kentucky Oaks this weekend sparked online backlash.
The 22-year-old now-retired LSU gymnast had the honor of kicking off the 2025 Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 2, but her delivery of the two-sentence announcement didn’t go as smoothly as planned.
In the viral clip, Dunne appeared to stumble over her lines, glancing down repeatedly, which led many social media users to criticize her for not memorizing the script. Despite the awkwardness, fans were quick to comment on the silence from the crowd, with only one lone "woohoo!" echoing through the venue.
Earlier that day, Dunne had posted a TikTok showing off her outfit, but fans used the comments section as an opportunity to ask the athlete about her performance.
@livvy your girls first derby:) #kentuckyderby #oaks #horse #race #OOTD @kentuckyderby ♬ original sound - Tex
“You introducing the race was a tough watch,” one fan wrote, which Dunne responded to a day later. “I couldn’t hear myself because of the echo of the microphone 😭," she explained in the reply.
Other users critiqued Dunne, with another noting, “They gotta stop giving journalism jobs to influencers.”
However, some loyal fans jumped in the defend Dunne, leaving comments like, “idk why ppl being mean this would be once in a lifetime to do that,” and, “The Derby Queen🔥”
Despite the rocky start, Dunne made the most of her Kentucky Derby weekend. She hosted the exclusive Club SI at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Oaks, and documented plenty of moments from her weekend on social media. On Saturday, the gymnast opted for a bold statement dress, featuring polka dots and a large white hat to match.
This appearance at the iconic event came just after Dunne’s emotional retirement from gymnastics. “✌️ out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU!💜 ,” she announced in a post on X on April 18.
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