Serena Williams has finally addressed the buzz surrounding her unexpected appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion joined rapper Kendrick Lamar on stage as he performed a medley of his biggest hits, including the now-infamous Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.”
With an audience of 133.5 million viewers, the performance became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history.
The surprise cameo sparked widespread conversation, not only because of Serena’s sheer star power but also due to her rumored past connection with Drake.
The tennis legend and the rapper were linked as far back as 2011, when speculation about their relationship arose.
Although neither ever confirmed the romance, Drake was frequently seen attending Serena’s matches.
In 2015, their rumored relationship resurfaced when they were spotted getting cozy, and later, photos emerged of the two sharing a kiss.
Given their alleged history, Serena’s presence at a performance featuring a diss track aimed at Drake did not go unnoticed by fans. Social media erupted with reactions, with some questioning whether her appearance had a deeper meaning. However, Serena’s husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, quickly stepped in to provide context. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “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.”
Ohanian was referring to Serena’s 2012 celebration after winning an Olympic gold medal against Maria Sharapova. She performed a crip walk, a dance with roots in gang culture, and received backlash at the time. Many critics viewed the negative response as racially charged, making her Super Bowl dance a full-circle moment of cultural reclamation.
Serena herself later weighed in on the conversation, responding to her husband’s support with a tweet: “That there [is] my baby daddy and husband. Always got my back. I love you.” She also explained why she had not immediately addressed the situation, stating: “Gosh I’m so late to the game (I’ve been sick) & busy investing in billion-dollar companies and running @WYNbeauty…” before emphasizing, “[Definitely] not dancing to be petty lol.”
Shutting down any speculation that her Super Bowl appearance had been a dig at Drake, she further clarified: “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.”
Though Serena has remained mostly silent on her past with Drake, the rapper has referenced her multiple times in his music. In his 2013 track “Worst Behavior,” he rapped: “I’m with my whole set, tennis matches at the crib. I swear I could beat Serena when she playin’ with her left.” Then, in 2022—five years after Serena married Ohanian—Drake made headlines with his song “Middle of the Ocean,” where he took a swipe at her husband, rapping: “Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie.”
While Serena never publicly addressed Drake’s jab, she subtly acknowledged the dynamic during the 2023 ESPY Awards. Hosting the ceremony, she joked: “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us, not a single one of us, not even me, should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.” She then danced to “Not Like Us” and cheekily added: “He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re going to Forrest Gump him. Seats taken.”
Serena’s Super Bowl moment may have ignited speculation, but her response makes it clear—her appearance was nothing more than a powerful moment of self-expression. Rather than stirring up drama, she simply enjoyed being part of an unforgettable performance. With her legacy firmly cemented in both sports and culture, Serena continues to show that she is above the noise.
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