Alexis Ohanian, renowned for his unwavering support of his wife, tennis icon Serena Williams, has once again made headlines. This time, Ohanian responded fiercely to criticisms following Williams’s notable appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, specifically her unexpected dance move that has sparked widespread conversation.
Serena Williams’s Crip Walk: A Dance with Deep Roots
During Kendrick Lamar’s performance of “Not Like Us,” a track famously taking digs at rapper Drake, the spotlight briefly shifted to Serena Williams. In a moment that both surprised and delighted fans, Williams performed a Crip Walk, a dance she was once scrutinized for at Wimbledon in 2012. This bold display at the Super Bowl not only served as a powerful callback to a pivotal moment in Williams’s career but also seemed to throw shade at Drake, with whom she had a rumored romantic history.
The dance quickly became a focal point for discussion, with some praising Williams for her audacity and others, like media personalities Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock, criticizing her motives. Smith, on his ESPN show “First Take,” questioned the appropriateness of Williams’s actions, suggesting that if she were still focused on an ex, she should reconsider her current relationship. Whitlock echoed similar sentiments, branding the dance as “the height of disrespect” and maintaining his stance that Williams should have apologized for her original dance back in 2012.
Alexis Ohanian’s Defiant Response to Critics
In the wake of these critiques, Alexis Ohanian stepped forward to defend his wife’s Super Bowl appearance. On Twitter, he addressed Smith directly, hinting at a previous tweet where he had outlined the significance of Serena’s dance beyond the superficial gossip linking it to Drake. “I got you @stephenasmith,” Ohanian wrote, linking to his earlier defense, which highlighted the historical context and the undue criticism Serena faced over a decade ago.
Ohanian’s response underscored a deep frustration with the ongoing narrative that trivializes his wife’s actions and challenges the legitimacy of their relationship. In his detailed explanation, Ohanian stated, “Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows…. This is bigger than the music.”
The Fallout and Continuing Support
The debate reached its peak when Jason Whitlock, known for his conservative takes on sports and politics, labeled Ohanian a “true beta” and dismissed his reactions as overly sensitive. Ohanian’s retort to Whitlock was not just a defense of his wife’s artistic expression but also a statement against the derogatory use of “simp,” a term thrown at him by critics who disapprove of his supportive stance.
In the midst of the controversy, Ohanian remains a steadfast supporter of Serena, exemplifying how partners can stand up for one another in the face of public scrutiny. His actions highlight an important conversation about respect, support, and the right to artistic freedom in the spotlight.