An Oregon sports reporter found herself in the spotlight after a clip of her being interrupted by fans referencing the popular ‘6-7’ trend went viral.
Olivia Cleary, who reports for ABC affiliate KEZI, was covering the football game between Oregon State University and Lafayette University on October 18 when a group of boisterous fans began to interfere with her broadcast.
The now-viral clip, which has garnered over six million views, shows Cleary attempting to conduct her report as a group of at least six fans crowd around her on screen.
One fan can be seen pushing his face into the camera, while another shouts ‘SIX SEVEN’ loudly in the background. Despite the disturbance, Cleary continues with her report as best she can.
The ‘6-7’ trend has become so widespread that some educators have had to ban it in schools. It all started with the American rapper Skrilla, who released the track ‘Doot Doot (6 7)’, featuring the line: “6, 7, I just bipped right on the highway (bip, bip).”
Since the song’s release, the phrase has taken off, often accompanied by an up-and-down hand motion.
On October 20, Cleary addressed the viral moment on Twitter, expressing gratitude for the supportive messages she received after the incident.
She tweeted: “I’m aware of the video circulating and want to thank everyone for the support! At the start of my live shot, fans were kind and added a fun element to my coverage. As it went on, a few fans stuck around and things got a little out of hand which is what you saw.
“For the most part, Beaver Nation has been very welcoming to me. Live TV is unpredictable and sometimes you have to roll with it!”
In response to the incident, Beaver Athletics of Oregon State University issued a statement on Twitter, acknowledging the disruptive behavior seen during the live report.
“The actions displayed do not reflect the values of Beaver Nation or our fan code of conduct,” the statement read, adding that they were “reviewing the situation further and apologize to the reporter for her experience. We also commend her professionalism and composure in handling the moment.”
Cleary has also received backing from her journalist colleagues. Cameron Derby, a sports director for KEZI, called the fans’ actions ‘ridiculous’.
“Olivia did not deserve this. No one does. If the game isn’t exciting enough, go home,” he commented.