Women Athletes’ Privacy at Stake as Olivia Dunne’s Scary Confession Highlights Sad Reality in US

No one may have expected such a turn of events. On April 6, Olivia Dunne posted what seemed like another golden thread in the tapestry of her dream life—a “quick lil life update🔮” on TikTok.  The sun dipped low behind her as she strolled a breezy beach, radiating warmth, peace, and a glow that felt almost too good to be real. Her caption told a story of milestones: “First semester grad school done, house hunting at the beach, bought a nyc apt, and walking to get a pina colada life is sweet like cinnamon.” But just six weeks later, that sweetness has soured. The life she curated with balance, intention, and joy is now clouded by fear. Because Olivia Dunne is being stalked. Not metaphorically—literally.

Olivia has dealt with similar situations before. In 2023, she required security following a troubling incident at the University of Utah. At the time, Dunne was sidelined due to an injury, but large groups of young men still gathered outside the venue, chanting “We want Livvy! Give us Livvy!” while other gymnasts were performing. Police eventually had to step in, and LSU’s team bus was rerouted to avoid contact with the crowd. Officers were even stationed at the front to keep the group from approaching. However, the current situation has escalated even further.

Two days ago, Livvy posted a video on TikTok with the caption, “They know time, place, airport, everything!!! Stay safe.” The clip’s core message was deeply unsettling. In it, Olivia revealed, “I fear that I’m being stalked and I don’t know what to do. It’s got to the point every single time I go to the airport, there’s a group of at least 10 middle-aged men waiting for me, and they harass me. It’s these men that want my autograph.” She explained that these men often follow her through TSA pre-check, and if she refuses to stop, they begin shouting at her to create a scene. Olivia then included footage in the video, showing a recent airport experience that captured just how frightening and invasive the encounters have become.

“This is me literally crying fresh off a red-eye at 6 a.m. They circled me at the baggage claim and were like in my face.” Olivia’s voice trembled in the clip, but the fear was unmistakable.  “It’s not only when I’m going to big events; it’s like if I’m going on a family vacation. They’re waiting there.” The chilling part? Her family hasn’t been spared either. They’ve witnessed it firsthand. And despite the obvious danger, airline authorities have been unable—or unwilling—to intervene.

Well, Livvy, known for her vibrant presence on social media, has always been open with fans, sharing bits of her personal life through videos and posts. But even that transparency hasn’t explained how complete strangers seem to know exactly where she’ll be. The obsession has gone far beyond harmless fandom. “I’m talking about like a 20-minute connecting flight through Omaha, Nebraska. They would be waiting there.” In the comment section, Livvy’s older sister summed it up best: “It’s actually the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.” And this isn’t just Olivia Dunne’s story. Sadly, she’s one of many public figures—especially young women—who are being stalked, followed, and harassed for simply existing in the public eye.

Simone Biles and Gabby Thomas have had a similar experience to Olivia Dunne 

In January, Gabby Thomas posted a TikTok that sent shockwaves through the athletic community—not for a highlight reel or a training update, but for something far more alarming. Her voice, usually poised and confident, trembled as she spoke: “At this point, every time I travel, I’m afraid that these men are going to show up and harass me.” Then, Gabby described how groups of three to six middle-aged men had been waiting for her—not just in airports, but inside them. They weren’t casually hanging out near baggage claim. They were at the exact gate. The correct concourse. Beyond security.

“They have my flight information,” Thomas said, clearly shaken. “And they show up at the front door of the airport at the correct concourse or they show up at my gate, which means they have flight tickets and they get past security and all that.” Well, it wasn’t an isolated incident. It had happened multiple times, in cities like Chicago and Miami. A disturbing pattern had emerged, and Gabby had no idea how they were tracking her. She took steps to protect herself: changing passwords, keeping her travel plans off the radar. But the fear lingered. And she’s not alone.

Simone Biles faced a similar situation ahead of the Kentucky Derby. Darin Zoccali, a Thoroughbred racehorse owner who happened to be on the same flight, saw it firsthand at Newark Airport. A family approached Simone at baggage claim—not to say hello, but to aggressively demand autographs. They weren’t just after a quick signature. They brought items for her to personalize, including her Sports Illustrated cover. Zoccali was stunned, though.

“I don’t understand, how did they know what plane she would be on,” he said. “Scary.” This isn’t admiration. It’s not fan culture. It’s surveillance. And for athletes like Olivia Dunne, Gabby and Simone, it’s becoming a terrifying new normal.