Livvy Dunne breaks silence after being slammed for ‘terrible’ attempt at iconic Kentucky Oaks tradition
After being roasted over the coals for her ‘awkward’ contribution to a Churchill Downs tradition, former college gymnast Livvy Dunne is responding to her critics.
Dunne, the content creator and swimsuit model, was on hand for Friday’s running of the 2025 Kentucky Oaks – one of the top horse races for fillies in the United States traditionally held the day before the Kentucky Derby.
Dunne was asked to give the call for ‘Riders Up’, but appeared to struggle through her lines.
She posted a TikTok showing off her wardrobe for the event and responded to a comment saying her version of the call ‘was a tough watch’.
“I couldn’t hear myself because of the echo of the microphone ,” Dunne, 22, wrote, adding a crying emoji.
Another commenter wondered ‘Why are people so mean to you?’ to which Dunne simply replied ‘yes’.
Livvy Dunne revealed that she had issues hearing her microphone at the Kentucky Oaks
Earlier in the day, she gave fans a glimpse of the all-pink outfit she wore to the race on Friday
Dunne appeared to be reading off a teleprompter, paused between her words, and may have talked with her hands a bit too much.
After finishing, the camera lingered on her for a few seconds too long as the crowd offered no support and Dunne looked off camera and appeared to cringe through the malfunction.
But regardless, she arrived in style in a gorgeous pink dress with rose detailing on the shoulder straps. That was paired with a unique headpiece, as is common at Churchill Downs.
The following day, she switched up her attire with a white dress covered in black polka dots and a black mesh trim that she wore to the racecourse.
To complete the look, she also matched it with a white hat with a black bow on top and a luxury Chanel bag.
Simone Biles and Aaron Rodgers were also among the big names at Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
Biles was given the chance to do the ‘Riders Up’ call for the Derby after Dunne, but she too was criticized on social media.
Dunne switched out her outfit for the Kentucky Derby with a white-and-polka-dot dress
The 151st edition of the historic race was won by Sovereignty, followed by Journalism in second and Baeza in third.
Dunne revealed last week that her gymnastics career is over after LSU’s national title bid ended in defeat.
‘Gymnastics, you have filled my heart and shaped be a part of me,’ she said in a video put together by LSU.
‘You’ve shaped me into the person I am today, creating memories and sisterhoods that will last a life support. You are my first love.
