In New York City, not even millions of followers or a pile of cash can guarantee you a spot in one of its ultra-exclusive co-op buildings.
And just ask Olivia “Livvy” Dunne — the former LSU gymnast, social media star, and girlfriend of MLB pitcher Paul Skenes — because she’s now learned that the hard way.
A Dream Apartment With a Famous Past
Livvy had her sights set on something iconic: the late Babe Ruth’s former home on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
The $1.59 million co-op apartment at 345 West 88th Street once housed the legendary New York Yankee, and for Dunne, it felt like the perfect place to begin a new chapter.
She and Skenes even walked through the space together, and she had already brought on an interior designer to help move her in with style.
But just when everything seemed lined up — and after offering to pay in full, in cash — the co-op board slammed the door shut.
No Explanation, Just Rejection
In a lighthearted but clearly disappointed TikTok video, Dunne explained the situation to her fans.
“The realtor was confident. I was excited. Then I get a call the week I’m supposed to get my keys… the co-op board denied me,” she said.
“For all I know, they could have been Alabama fans and I went to LSU.”
She didn’t get an answer — and she won’t. That’s the norm for New York co-ops.
These boards don’t legally have to tell you why you’re not welcome. Privacy and discretion are their top priorities, especially in buildings where the old-money crowd still holds sway.
“Don’t Try to Live in a Co-op”
Livvy left her followers with a simple piece of advice: “Don’t try to live in a co-op.
You might get denied and you won’t get Babe Ruth’s apartment.”
Co-ops are notoriously difficult — even more so than your average Manhattan real estate deal.
Unlike buying a condo, purchasing a co-op means buying shares in a corporation and being vetted by a board that has the final say, no matter how wealthy or famous you are.
And Dunne, with her 5.4 million Instagram followers, her LSU roots, and her influencer status, may have simply not fit the mold.
Livvy’s Not Alone: Even Madonna and Mariah Carey Got Rejected
As it turns out, Dunne is in very famous company. Co-op boards have a long history of turning down even the biggest celebrities:
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Madonna was denied from a Central Park building in the 1980s and again sued her board in the 2000s. Eventually, she gave up and built her own mega-mansion.
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Mariah Carey got rejected from Barbra Streisand’s former penthouse at The Ardsley even after making an $8 million all-cash offer.
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Barbra Streisand herself was denied a Park Avenue co-op back in 1969 for being too “Hollywood.”
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Melanie Griffith was turned away from the famous Dakota building in 2011, which has also rejected Cher and Billy Joel.
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Jay-Z had to battle residents in court just to buy his Hudson Street penthouse.
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Even President Richard Nixon gave up on an apartment after neighbors protested his application post-presidency.
Co-Ops Aren’t Built for Flash
Peter Zaitzeff of Serhant real estate summed it up simply: “Co-ops want to stay private. They’re persnickety.
They don’t want flash — even if it’s a celebrity with cash.”
From Calvin Klein to Rush Limbaugh and even Diane Sawyer, the pattern is clear. These buildings want quiet wealth, not paparazzi.
When Privacy Beats Stardom
In New York’s real estate world, having star power doesn’t always open doors.
For Livvy Dunne, Babe Ruth’s former apartment will remain a dream she couldn’t quite catch.
But as she joked with her fans — sometimes the co-op just isn’t that into you.