Serena Williams can make an entrance, and she did it with a few sophisticated moves. The 43-year-old tennis star briefly appeared during Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime concert and flawlessly hit the crip walk, sending the internet crazy. Williams now discusses her outrageous dance moves.
Sports and hip-hop merged unexpectedly for a moment. The camera briefly shifted to the stage corner while Kendrick Lamar sang “Not Like Us” at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
There was Serena Williams, tennis legend, 23-time Grand Slam champion, and cultural icon, striding with easy cool only she could.
Robert “Sugar Bear” Jackson, a first-generation crip, originated the dance in the 1970s.
This wasn’t Williams’ first dance performance.
Crip walk Wimbledon
Williams’ crip walking after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics was both celebrated and controversial.
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.”
After Plaschke’s critique, a fan comments, “The Pittsburgh suburb kids crip walk at proms. Not everything is controversial.”
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.”
From Compton to NOLA. @SerenaWilliams @KendrickLamar #AppleMusicHalftime pic.twitter.com/mnzuP7fJ1N
— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025
Cripwalk reenactment
It was peak expectation as Lamar performed at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans at halftime. After the song’s beat landed, the stadium erupted, and Williams was seen effortlessly vibing to Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss single, “Not Like Us” (aimed at Drake).
Williams dated the Canadian rapper before she married Alexis Ohanian, and Lamar escalated his dispute with Drake by bringing her on stage.
In one dance step, Serena’s position in the Drake-Kendrick conflict was clear.
Though it was fleeting, the tennis star and Lamar, both from Compton, California, drove social media into a frenzy.
This game stinks. One fan tweeted, “Serena won the Super Bowl,” after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9.
„Serena appearing too? Powerful move. Kendrick representing Compton, Serena as a legend—definitely a moment,” says another netizen.
Another writes, “Fierce!! My only complaint: the camera should be on Serena longer!
Crip walk legend
Williams captioned her 2025 Eagles victory post, “Super Bowl halftime show babyyyyyyyyy.”
Super Bowl halftime show babyyyyyyyyy pic.twitter.com/zufoSNdNhe
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 10, 2025
In the 2.7 million-view footage, she laughs, “Man I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon, I would’ve been fined.”
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
Another says, “Kendrick bringing one of Drake’s exes out to literally dance on his grave was so good.”
Legend herself. You represented,” comments a third.
Serena Williams stole the show without a touchdown or microphone. Only five seconds, a classic dance move, and the proper tune were needed.
With that, Serena Williams won the Super Bowl.
What do you think of Williams’ Super Bowl crip walk? Share your opinions and this experience with us so we can hear from others!