Alexis Ohanian is defending his wife Serena Williams, who is accused of hijacking the Super Bowl halftime show with her crip walk, a controversial dance rooted in Southern California gangs.
The Super Bowl halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans was anticipated to the max. After the song’s beat dropped, the crowd roared, and Serena Williams walked with the effortless cool only she could pull off as the song struck one of its most contagious parts.
Robert “Sugar Bear” Jackson, a first-generation crip, devised the crip walk in the 1970s.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and cultural icon, easily grooved to Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss tune “Not Like Us” at Drake.
The tennis player, who grew up in Compton like Lamar, dated Drake before she married Alexis Ohanian. By inviting her on stage, Lamar escalated his dispute with Drake.
That dance move answered any questions regarding Serena, 43,’s position in the Drake-Kendrick conflict.
The internet went crazy for something other than the dispute.
Olympic crip walk
Williams performed the crip walk on Wimbledon at the 2012 London Olympics, sparking praise and criticism.
LA Times sports journalist Bill Plaschke tweeted, “Serena C-walking at Wimbledon only shows how long she’s been away from home, separated from violence and death associated with that dance.”
Fans were divided on whether Williams’ crip walk dance to celebrate her win was “disrespectful” or “stupid and classless.”
One fan responds to Plaschke’s criticism, “It’s a dance. Nothing more, nothing less. 12 year olds who never heard of the gang do it. Do not overthink a minor issue.”
Another says, “Raw emotion. Dance choice doubtful. No disrespect. We should accept athletes’ honesty.” Another said, “Shame she had to tarnish an impressive win. really stupid and classless.”
Halftime crip stroll
Williams captioned her 2025 Eagles victory post, “Super Bowl halftime show babyyyyyyyyy.”
In the 3.8 million-view footage, she says, “Man I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon, I would’ve been fined.”
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 10, 2025
Fans lauded her Super Bowl surprise appearance in the comments.
Serena Williams! One netizen said, “The converse, the attire, the dance movements, the feature in Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not like us’ Super Bowl halftime show, winning on and off the tennis court
A second writes, “The Legend. You represented.”
Sister shot William
However, her Super Bowl 2025 dance moves were not universally praised.
One tweet says, “Crip walking on national tv when her older sister was murdered by crips,” alluding to Williams’ old sister Yetunde Price, who was shot in the head in 2003 Compton. Yetunde, 31, was killed by a “trigger happy street gangster” shielding a “Los Angeles crack house from gangland rivals.”
“I would never crip walk if they was responsible for the death of my sister,” says a second, while a third mentions Williams’ husband.
“She’s embarrassing. Pathetic and will do anything to keep relevant as her fame fades. What if Alexis had any balls?c’mon, he wouldn’t tolerate this.”
‘Winning off court’
Reddit co-founder Ohanian wouldn’t “put up” with wife-bashing.
Ohanian posted supporting his tennis champion wife the day after the Super Bowl.
“Some of you may not realize how much Serena was chastised for this dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago.“This is bigger than the music,” tweets the 41-year-old.
Ohanian, who has two daughters with Williams, posted a screenshot of Fox Sports conservative sports pundit Jason Whitlock’s past comments.
Whitlock initially said Williams “deserved to be criticized” for her celebratory dance and “should’ve immediately apologized.” He even likened her tennis crip walk to “cracking a tasteless, X-rated joke inside a church.”
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. pic.twitter.com/Xq4O96Yg0s
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 11, 2025
In addition, he released a film of Samuel L. Jackson impersonating Uncle Sam at Lamar’s performance, saying, “Oh no, no!” Too loud! Too careless! Too…ghetto.”
Many fans commented on Ohanian’s February 9 post, providing encouragement.
“Get it, girls! One admirer says Serena wins off the court too.
Another says, “GOAT doing GOAT things. Wimbledon should apologise to Serena Another says, “I’ve never been moved by a performance like last night. ever. Impactful. Perfect. You helped make a soul stirring memorable, Serena.”
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