LSU gymnast and Sports Illustrated cover star Olivia Dunne tearfully reveals persistent harassment from “middle-aged men” at airports, raising concerns about celebrity safety and prompting calls for stronger protections.
Olivia Dunne Opens Up: “I Fear I’m Being Stalked” at Airports
Olivia Dunne, the former LSU gymnast turned Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model, recently shared a tearful TikTok video in which she confessed, “I fear that I’m being stalked and I don’t know what to do,” after repeatedly encountering aggressive autograph seekers at airports nationwide nypost. In the clip—viewed by millions—she described being chased through TSA PreCheck lines by groups of “at least 10 middle-aged men” who carry stacks of her photos and magazines, demanding autographs and creating a public scene when refused nypost
Dunne recounted how these men seem to have prior knowledge of her flight itineraries—even on 20-minute connecting flights in small airports like Omaha, Nebraska—raising alarms that her private travel data may be compromised nypostThey will run after me down the TSA PreCheck line and yell at me if I don’t give them my autograph,” she said in the video. “It’s insane. They will yell at me and make a scene and the people around me are scared” nypost.com. Dunne added that on one recent trip, these men “circled” her at baggage claim, leaving her visibly shaken and in tears nypost.
Watch the TikTok video here:
Olivia Dunne’s Tearful Revelation: “I Fear I’m Being Stalked” youtube.com
Several outlets, including Fox News, confirmed that Dunne’s social media presence—boasting over 13 million followers across platforms—has unfortunately attracted this unwanted attention. According to Fox News, Dunne said the harassment occurs “every single time I go to the airport” and that the men “have a stack of like 40 pictures of me or my magazines” foxnews.com. She speculated the stalkers might be obtaining her flight details through “something with the airline” and emphasized that “it needs to stop, because it’s scary for girls … it’s weird” foxnews.com.
Her situation mirrors a similar ordeal faced by Olympic gold-medalist sprinter Gabby Thomas, who disclosed in January that she was harassed by three to six middle-aged men at airports demanding autographs—even using their flight information to track her across different cities. Thomas noted, “What scares me is that they have my flight information, even when I don’t even know what time I’m flying out sometimes … It’s really scary” nypost Thomas publicly praised Dunne’s decision to speak out, commenting: “So sad that because we’re good at what we do people feel like they should have constant access to us and give us travel anxiety. Glad you’re speaking up too” nypost.com.
In addition to athletes, fans and social media users have reacted with concern and outrage. On Reddit’s r/Gymnastics forum, one commenter wrote, “That sounds terrifying … a bunch of grown men think it’s okay to stalk a young woman,” while others urged her to book flights under an alias or hire personal security when traveling reddit.com. Another user highlighted the empathy gap, lamenting, “I hate to hear that it happened to Gabby Thomas too. As if being an athlete doesn’t mean you deserve privacy and safety” reddit.com.
NBC News reported that Dunne later issued an official statement saying, “There’s a group of autograph seekers who are able to know private flight information. I am not the only female athlete who experiences this. It’s scary because they simply don’t take no for an answer” kfbk.iheart.com. Similarly, Athlon Sports published that Dunne’s red-eye flight on May 30 left her “brought to tears” after the men “circled me at baggage claim and were like in my face,” echoing her fears that her personal data may have been compromised kfbk
Legal experts and security professionals have noted that if these autograph seekers truly have access to precise flight details, they could be obtaining them through illicit means—potentially putting Dunne’s safety at serious risk. Some have speculated that airport or airline employees may be selling passenger information, though no definitive proof has emerged. In response, sports agencies and airports are being urged to review their privacy protocols to protect high-profile travelers from stalker-like behavior timesofindia
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, Dunne’s revelations have reignited broader discussions about the boundaries between public figures and fans. While autograph requests are common in sports, the aggressive tactics—such as chasing athletes through security lines and repeatedly tracking them across states—have crossed a line, prompting calls for swift policy changes. In a May 31 statement, a spokesperson for a major airline commented, “We do not condone any behavior that jeopardizes a passenger’s safety or privacy. We are investigating these claims and reiterate that passenger data should remain confidential” nypost
As Dunne continues to navigate this ordeal, many of her followers have sent messages of support on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. A verified user wrote, “Stay strong, Livvy. This is unacceptable. We need stronger protections for women celebrities out here” (per public replies on X) foxnews.com. Another fan tweeted, “This is why so many female athletes are nervous to travel alone—this must stop” foxnews.com.
With graduation behind her and a thriving social-media career ahead, Dunne’s case underscores that fame comes with unique vulnerabilities. As she and other athletes like Gabby Thomas advocate for safer travel, it remains to be seen how governing bodies, airlines, and security agencies will respond to ensure privacy and protection for high-profile passengers. In the meantime, Dunne has encouraged her fans to remain vigilant and to “stay safe” when encountering celebrities in public spaces, hoping that public awareness will deter future harassment nypost
