Serena Williams is setting the record straight. After her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance, rumors swirled that her on-stage dance was a subtle jab at her former flame, Drake. Williams, however, insists that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In a recent interview with Time magazine, Williams addressed the speculation head-on. When asked if her performance was meant to shade Drake, she responded:
“Absolutely not. I would never do that. And that was sad, that anyone would ever think that. I respect how they could. Obviously I can see how someone would think that. But absolutely not.”
Williams and Lamar, both hailing from Compton, share a long-standing friendship. Their shared roots were a significant factor in her decision to join him on stage. Williams elaborated:
“Who would have thought that a tennis player from Compton would be on stage with Kendrick Lamar at the Super Bowl? It was a moment to celebrate our shared background.”
The performance, which featured Williams executing a crip walk, drew criticism from some quarters. The Federal Communications Commission reportedly received 125 complaints, with some viewers accusing her of promoting gang affiliation. Williams, however, dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the dance was a nod to her cultural heritage and not an endorsement of gang culture.
This isn’t the first time Williams has faced backlash for the dance. In 2012, after winning at Wimbledon, she performed the same move and faced similar criticism. Reflecting on that experience, she remarked:
“First of all, it was just a dance. I didn’t know that’s what it was called. Second, why are you asking me that? If anything, you should be trying to ask me questions to lift me up, not bring such things… I’m done with that question.”
Williams’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, also weighed in on the controversy. Responding to critics, he highlighted the double standards his wife has faced:
“Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows.”
As for Drake, the rapper has remained relatively silent on the matter. While he has addressed his past relationship with Williams in his music, he has not publicly commented on her Super Bowl appearance.
