The Detroit Tigers broadcast team made awkward jokes about Olivia Dunne before her boyfriend Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates faced her team on Wednesday.
Ahead of the Tigers-Pirates matchup, Bally Sports Detroit posted a graphic comparing Dunne’s social media followers to her boyfriend’s. However, the broadcast took an awkward turn when Johnny Kane looked at his phone in the middle of the segment.
‘What’s going on there, man? Are you looking for Livvy Dunne? game reporter Trevor Thompson asked.
“He just gained one more follower,” analyst Carlos Peña said with a laugh.
—Will you follow her on all social networks, Johnny? Thompson continued. “She’s a pretty good gymnast, national champion gymnast at LSU.”
The Lions’ broadcast team awkwardly joked about Olivia Dunne before Wednesday’s game.
During the broadcast, Bally Sports Detroit compared Dunne’s social media to Paul Skenes.
Dunne has 5.2 million followers on Instagram and 8 million on TikTok.
In addition to her large social media following, Dunne found a lot of success last year when she debuted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. In April, Dunne earned the crown jewel of her athletic career when LSU won its first NCAA gymnastics national title.
—Are you going to interview Livvy in the stands today? Kane asked Thompson as the awkward exchange continued.
“If I see her, I’ll try to locate her,” Thompson said with a smile. Let’s see if she comes with us to Bally Sports. ‘Why not, right?’
Like Dunne, Skenes also attended LSU and helped the Tigers win a National Championship in 2023.
Skenes, Dunne’s boyfriend, was selected by the Pirates with the first pick of the 2023 draft
Dunne and Skenes went to LSU, where they won national titles in their respective sports.
While in Baton Rouge, Skenes won the National Pitcher of the Year Award and the Dick Howser Trophy. He was also crowned Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series.
Pittsburgh selected Skenes first overall in the 2023 MLB draft and he began the season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
The pitcher made his major league debut on May 11 against the Chicago Cubs and struck out seven at PNC Park. The Pirates are 2-1 so far when Skenes showed up.