Curious about Serena Williams‘ Super Bowl halftime appearance and the backlash over her “petty” dance moves? This headline-making moment unfolded during Kendrick Lamar’s performance, sparking widespread speculation about Williams’ intentions. It led to intense discussions about her rumored history with Drake and the deeper cultural significance of her cameo.
Here’s a look at Serena Williams’ response to the criticism and the truth behind her Super Bowl appearance.
Serena Williams responds to Super Bowl dance criticism
Serena Williams responded to criticism regarding her appearance in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance, denying claims that her cameo was a “petty” dig at her ex-boyfriend Drake. On February 17, Williams addressed the backlash on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Gosh I’m so late to the game (I’ve been sick) & busy investing in billion dollar companies and running @WYNbeauty… def not dancing to be petty lol.”
The 23-time Grand Slam winner emphasized her focus on larger pursuits, stating, “I think I proved 23 times over (not counting 4 gold medals) that I simply don’t have time for petty. All love and respect always nothing negative here.” Williams appeared alongside Kendrick Lamar and SZA during the halftime show on February 9, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.
Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, previously commented on the significance of her performance. He pointed out the backlash Williams faced for performing the same dance at Wimbledon in 2012 when critics labeled it as “the height of disrespect.” Ohanian tweeted, “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.”
During the halftime show, Lamar performed “Not Like Us.” The rapper made subtle jabs at Drake, including the line, “Tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably A-minor,” and directly mentioning Drake during the performance, per Billboard. Despite speculation, Williams maintained her appearance had no negative intent.”
Williams also expressed gratitude toward her husband, replying to his supportive post, “That there my baby daddy and husband. Always got my back. I Love you.”
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon.net.
