One of America's most high-profile sporting couples, influencer Livvy Dunne and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball star Paul Skenes, have found themselves at the centre of online ridicule following a painfully awkward interview. The pair, who began dating in 2023, participated in a relationship quiz for GQ magazine, but the resulting clip left fans questioning how well they truly know each other.
The Cringe-Worthy Quiz Exchange
In the video shared by GQ Sports, the couple asked each other personal questions, with the exchanges quickly turning uncomfortable. Dunne, a former LSU gymnast, first asked Skenes: 'What was my first job?' Skenes guessed 'influencer or gymnast', which was incorrect. When he then asked if she'd ever had a 'real job', Dunne confirmed she had, but the pitcher tried to steer the conversation to his own first job, claiming it was being 'in the Air Force' due to his time at the United States Air Force Academy in 2018.
The awkwardness continued when Skenes asked Dunne to name his biggest baseball hero. She replied, 'I don't really know,' before tentatively suggesting Mike Trout as someone he admired. Skenes gave her a point, but only because, as he revealed, he doesn't actually consider anyone his 'hero'. The entire segment highlighted a surprising lack of basic knowledge about each other's backgrounds and interests.
Social Media Erupts with Criticism
Fans were quick to react on social media, flooding the comment section with critiques of the couple's apparent lack of chemistry and intimacy. One highly-liked comment, with over 1,000 likes, sarcastically asked: 'Had they ever met prior to this interview?' Others were equally blunt, with one user stating it was 'pretty awkward' and questioning if they should even be a couple, citing 'zero chemistry'.
Further comparisons were made to highlight the discomfort, with one person writing, 'I’ve seen less awkward job interviews,' and another adding, 'I’ve seen fewer red flags at a bull run.' The overarching sentiment was one of second-hand embarrassment, with many viewers finding the entire exchange cringe-inducing and questioning the depth of their connection.
A Glimpse of Contrasting Couple Goals
The interview fallout presents a stark contrast to the carefully curated image the couple often projects online. Just earlier in December, they were spotted enjoying a romantic outing in New York City, visiting the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Dunne was filmed for a TikTok video, leaning on Skenes and mouthing the words to Wham!'s 'Last Christmas', humorously captioning him her 'tallest shoulder ever'.
This picture-perfect moment of holiday cheer now sits uneasily alongside the stilted GQ quiz, painting a complex picture of a relationship constantly in the public eye. The incident serves as a reminder of the intense scrutiny faced by celebrity couples and how a single, unscripted moment can rapidly shift public perception.
