Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, is responding to criticism about her brief appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Serena’s Super Bowl Moment and the Controversy
During Kendrick’s performance of Not Like Us, a diss track aimed at Drake, the cameras briefly captured Serena dancing on stage. She performed the Crip Walk, a dance that originated in Compton during the 1970s.
This moment quickly grabbed attention online. Many fans noted that Serena had been harshly criticized for the same dance at Wimbledon in 2012. At that time, some accused her of glorifying gang culture, even though she was simply celebrating her victory over Maria Sharapova. The criticism was particularly painful because Serena’s older sister had been killed by a Southside Crips member years earlier.
Additionally, social media erupted with speculation that Serena’s dance was a direct jab at Drake, whom she was once romantically linked to. This theory gained traction because Drake has referenced Serena multiple times in his music, most notably in his 2022 track Middle of the Ocean, where he called Alexis a “groupie.”
Stephen A. Smith Weighs In
Media personality Stephen A. Smith did not hold back his opinion. On First Take, he argued that if he were Serena’s husband, he would divorce her over the incident.
“If I’m married, and my wife is trolling her ex, go back to him. Clearly, you don’t belong with me,” he stated. “Why are you focused on him if you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”
His remarks sparked a heated debate, with many questioning whether Serena’s dance was directed at Drake or simply a moment of fun.
Alexis Ohanian Responds
Serena’s real-life husband, Alexis Ohanian, was quick to address the controversy. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he described the halftime show as “pretty fantastic” and emphasized the significance of Serena’s dance.
“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,” he tweeted.
He also directly responded to the New York Post‘s coverage of Stephen’s remarks. Quoting their post, Alexis humorously wrote, “I got you @stephenasmith,” linking back to his original tweet about the historical importance of Serena’s dance.
Fans Praise Alexis’ Support
Alexis’ response quickly gained traction. Fans applauded him for standing by Serena, with many expressing admiration for his unwavering support.
“He does NOT play about his wife,” one person tweeted. Another added, “I love the way you don’t play about Serena.”
Many agreed that Alexis handled the situation in the best way possible. One user summed it up: “Everyone deserves someone who has their back like Alexis has Serena’s.”
