Laurie Hernandez on Simone Biles Tears, Haters, Seth Rogen

Laurie Hernandez is proving she’s as much of a natural at commentating the Olympics as she was when competing in them.

The 24-year-old media personality has been earning scores of praise this summer for her enthusiastic, insightful and down-to-earth broadcast work as a color commentator for NBC’s coverage of women’s artistic gymnastics events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hernandez has plenty of experience handling Olympic pressure, having won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team known as the “Final Five” at the 2016 Rio Olympics — alongside teammate Simone Biles — in addition to an individual silver medal for the balance beam that year.

She is also no stranger to the media spotlight, having won the Dancing With the Stars season 23 title in 2016 following the Olympics, in addition to co-hosting American Ninja Warrior Junior and voicing roles on such animated series as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. But this summer’s Olympics have brought Hernandez, who is studying drama at NYU, new legions of fans.

Hernandez hopped on a phone call with The Hollywood Reporter during a break from her broadcast work for trampoline gymnastics events Friday in Paris. During the conversation, she discussed her fears of “imposter syndrome” heading into Paris, her strategy for dealing with the haters, her emotional reaction when Biles won the all-around women’s final, her hopes for future acting roles and why she got the giggles upon spotting Seth Rogen at an event.

How has it felt to have viewers praising your perspective throughout these Games?

The excitement and the positive feedback that I’ve gotten from a lot of people on social media, it’s really been mind-blowing. Even just in getting this job, being 24 years old, the imposter syndrome was really kicking in. (Laughs.) In the sense of, “I’m an athlete; I went to the Games. Those are my credentials!” I feel like I was embraced with open arms. Also, I feel really honored that I get to just be myself on air, and I get to share some of those really funny moments, while also hopefully still being technical and informative and bridging that gap between those who may be really new fans and little young gymnasts, to the big old gymnastics nerds who know the code of points simply better than I do.

Fans loved your emotional reaction to Biles winning the all-around gold. How did it feel to be there for that?

It’s history in the making anytime that she competes. It really kicked off when Suni [Lee] locked in that score for bronze. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, and usually I’ve got a really good gist of who that top five is. They all score quite similarly, and we knew it was going to come down into the tenths. It’s all these little things that many gymnasts who didn’t get podium might kick themselves in the shin for and think, “Man, it was a few tenths away.”

So the tension was high. I felt myself get choked up after Suni. [Brazil’s] Rebeca Andrade went, and I adore her as an athlete as well. Rebeca is one of the best athletes in the world, similar to Simone. Simone just happens to be better. (Laughs.) She proved that. Recognizing the weight of all of that really just caught something in my throat while we were on air.

Did you get to say anything to Simone?

She’s incredibly busy. Her phone is probably blowing up tenfold right now. But there was a press conference, and I got there about five minutes before it ended and weaved my way through the back. As Simone and Suni were leaving, she had called out and was like, “Hi, Laurie, all the way in the back. I see you!” And I was like, “Hey, girl!” But I hope she knows just how proud the entire world is of her. She showed up when it counts.

What’s been the biggest challenge of your new career path?

Actually, a really unexpected challenge for me was recognizing technical names of the skills, and it’s more often than not on the uneven bars. My coaches had always referred to certain skills as one way, and the more gymnastics coverage that I’m doing, it’s so wild to realize that a lot of the language wasn’t used. A lot of the skills weren’t called exactly what they are. (Laughs.) I would have preferred to get punched in the face, but this is fine. All of it is a learning moment, and we have an incredible research team out here.

It’s been fun for viewers to learn more about you through the broadcasts. Do you remember what made you react to Seth Rogen the way you did?

He’s just a funny guy! Of all the people that I could have expected to be in the crowd during women’s all-around final at the Olympics, I just didn’t think Seth Rogen would be there. I was kind of like, “What?” For my own personal reasons, I thought it was hilarious.

Did you get to say hi?

No. Typically, anybody who’s watching in the crowd probably gets escorted out afterwards because the crowds tend to be so crazy. Usually when the competition is over, me and the research squad will hang back for quite a bit until everybody clears out of the arena a bit more. I tend to get swamped if I step out too early, which I have learned. Just lots of excitement and joy, and as much as I want to appease everyone, it can be really overwhelming at times.

You posted about seeing negative comments about yourself on social media. Have they continued?

My issue wasn’t with the comments themselves. Obviously, I prefer people be kind and respectful, but it is social media, and it’s a world of free speech. Say what you’re going to say. But also, I do go on social media. I see what’s being posted, especially if I’m tagged in it. If I’m tagged, the intent is for me to see it. So my ask was just that I don’t get tagged into it. Again, people can have their opinion. You’re allowed to absolutely hate my commentary. That totally makes sense.

For some of them, it’s constructive criticism that I take back with me, and I’m like, “You know what? This is a perspective that I didn’t think of before, and I love that somebody brought this up.” It’s not about trying to appease everyone, but if there’s a way to make things better and have people enjoy things more, why not? But when it’s unkind and I’m tagged in it, that’s where I’m like, “Guys, I’m chronically online, too. I just want to scroll in peace.” (Laughs.)

Fans loved that you caught Simone’s eye roll during her floor exercise. Is it fun to provide that insider insight?

It is really fun. Because I know these athletes and have just watched them for so long, I can watch their body language and expressions and recognize maybe what they might be thinking in the moment. It helps bring them to a level that the audience can digest and therefore hold a lot of space and sympathy and compassion for them as well, while also realizing this is a moment that they might never experience.

Do you miss being out there, or is this a different kind of thrill?

For the most part, it’s a different kind of thrill, and I don’t necessarily miss being out there. But I feel it sometimes when I’m watching beam. That’s the one that makes my eye twitch a little bit when I see beam routines going out there. I don’t really feel that for other events. Sometimes the bug to get out and do a floor routine just for the sake of having a good time, that always sounds like fun to me. Then I realize I could just take dance classes. (Laughs.) I don’t know if anything will take the itch away of doing a beam routine. Something about that is so unique, and I haven’t been able to replicate that in anything.

Fans have been encouraging you to pursue more acting opportunities. Might that be in your future?

Absolutely. I’m currently a drama major at NYU, so I’m working my way into the acting world. A lot of people were really shocked by that, but if you ask my parents, I had loved entertainment since I was a little kid. I loved sketch comedy and imitating people. A lot of my floor routine felt that way, of a performance and almost a different persona out there. So being able to play around with acting and to keep that aspect of performance while continuing with life outside of sport, that’s definitely been a huge part of it. Animation and voice acting is one of my favorite things to consume on TV and also to be a part of. That’s definitely the hope.