She had the cash. She had the contract. She even had a designer lined up. But just days before she was set to receive the keys to Babe Ruth’s former New York apartment, Olivia “Livvy” Dunne found out the deal was dead. It was supposed to be a big step for the former LSU gymnast and social media star. But suddenly, the idea fell apart. The building’s co-op board had quietly rejected her application, and the apartment was no longer hers. What went wrong? Well, the neighbours have spoken…

After the deal fell apart, Dunne, LSU alum and influencer, took to TikTok to express confusion, saying she had “no clue” why the deal collapsed. But inside the West 88th Street building, the message was far more direct. “She messed up,” one resident stated bluntly. “The board got pissed because she put it on her Instagram.” According to that account, Dunne’s decision to announce the purchase, complete with a beachside video and the line “bought a nyc apt,” irked members of the building’s board. Her post went to over 5 million followers, drawing attention to a sale that had not yet cleared formal approval.

“She’s so little, like a child,” said another neighbor who recalled seeing Dunne visiting the apartment with her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. “I have to admit, when I saw her from behind, I didn’t think she was an adult. I thought she was a little boy.” While those comments veered into the personal, they were part of a broader pattern. Residents seemed to view Dunne’s image-driven lifestyle with skepticism. The board, according to reports, did not appreciate the preemptive celebration or the attention that followed.

The apartment itself, a $1.59 million pre-war unit in the Upper West Side, had been listed in March. Dunne, fresh off earning an estimated $9.5 million through the NCAA’s NIL rules, quickly moved to secure it. She visited with Skenes, made an all-cash offer, and even began plans for interior decoration. But in buildings like this one, cash isn’t always king. Co-op boards retain sweeping authority to deny sales, often without explanation, and residents typically value discretion as much as financial qualifications. Dunne’s visibility worked against her, not for her.

In the end, the loss wasn’t about money. For Olivia Dunne, it was just a reminder that not every place is the right fit. Her lifestyle and success might simply need a space that’s more open to today’s creators. And while the apartment didn’t work out, Dunne’s career is only rising! She was just named a Titan on TIME’s 100 Creators list.

Amid trouble, Olivia Dunne is still rising

The announcement landed not with a shout, but with the quiet certainty of someone already accustomed to extraordinary outcomes. Olivia Dunne, a name once tied solely to collegiate gymnastics excellence, has been listed among the “Titans” on TIME’s 2025 TIME100 Creators list. The distinction places her in the rarefied company of digital creators whose work has altered the way influence operates across platforms. TIME’s editors chose Dunne not merely for her metrics, but for the substance behind her visibility, a blend of athletic integrity, cultural resonance, and sustained relevance.

On July 9, Dunne acknowledged the recognition on Instagram Stories, writing, “thank you @time for featuring me as a ‘titan’ in the top 100 creators list an honor! alongside some of the greatest!, humbled and honored.” Her response, measured and sincere, reflects a continuing evolution from athlete to entrepreneur, from public figure to emblem of generational self-definition. Though her online presence exceeds 13 million followers, Dunne’s impact lies not in reach alone, but in what that reach signifies, the mainstreaming of a new kind of athletic voice—independent, commercially viable, and unscripted.

What makes Dunne stand out isn’t just her large following; it’s the real impact she has. TIME’s list highlights people who are shaping culture in new ways, outside of traditional systems. In that sense, Dunne’s spot on the list isn’t just for show; it’s well earned. She’s changed how athletes build their brand and stay relevant, showing that life after sports can be just as powerful.