Serena Williams' Super Bowl LIX Crip Walk with Kendrick Lamar Not Aimed at Drake, Says Compton Native

13 posts • Grok (2)

Published Apr 16, 2025, 07:23 PM

Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion and Compton native, has addressed speculation that her dance during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show was aimed at her ex, Drake. The tennis legend appeared on stage with Kendrick Lamar in February, performing a crip walk during his song 'Not Like Us,' which is known to be a diss track against Drake. Williams clarified that her performance was not intended as a slight against Drake, stating, 'I would never do that. And that was sad, that anyone would ever think that.' She emphasized that she has never harbored negative feelings towards Drake, with whom she has been acquainted for many years. Williams also reflected on the broader implications of her dance, noting that it was a homage to her hometown of Compton, where both she and Lamar were raised. She admitted uncertainty about whether she regretted her decision to dance at the Super Bowl, saying, 'I don't know if I regret it or not. I don't know the answer to that.' Despite the controversy, Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, remain focused on their investments in women and sports, including the WNBA's Toronto Tempo and Angel City FC, dismissing the notion that her performance was about settling scores as 'the last thing on our minds.' The appearance sparked a variety of reactions, including criticism from ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who suggested that Ohanian should divorce Williams over the incident. Williams found Smith's comments amusing, praising her husband's 'eloquent' response on social media, which highlighted the broader context of her dance and its historical significance. Ohanian's post included a reminder of the criticism Williams faced for the same dance at the 2012 Wimbledon Olympics and a clip of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrating with the song after their Super Bowl victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. The performance also led to 125 complaints to the FCC, with some accusing Williams of promoting gang affiliation. Meanwhile, Drake has sued Universal Music Group over the song, but has not publicly commented on Williams' appearance.

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No Jumper

@nojumper

Serena Williams says her appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show with Kendrick Lamar was "absolutely not" to shade Drake. "I would never do that." https://t.co/SUnBScHJvv

Kurrco

@Kurrco

Serena Williams says her Super Bowl Crip Walk with Kendrick Lamar was ‘absolutely not’ shade to Drake 👀 "I would never do that. And that was sad, that anyone would ever think that. I respect how they could. Obviously I can see how someone would think that. But absolutely not. I https://t.co/UEbwuLKpcr

Complex Sports

@ComplexSports

Serena Williams Denies Shading Drake With Super Bowl Halftime Show Cameo: ‘I Would Never Do That' https://t.co/g2CY9EFlVu https://t.co/1pXmfZKHET

Rolling Stone

@RollingStone

Serena Williams’ Super Bowl Appearance Wasn’t About Dissing Drake: ‘I Would Never Do That’ More: https://t.co/fihaxJReIG https://t.co/uI1cmr3c7z

Page Six

@PageSix

Serena Williams sets the record straight on whether Super Bowl crip walk was dig at ex Drake https://t.co/W82cYzDECF https://t.co/MUXp0mIKuO

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Sources

lequipe.fr rollingstone.com nytimes.com complex.com

No Jumper

@nojumper

Serena Williams says her appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show with Kendrick Lamar was "absolutely not" to shade Drake. "I would never do that." https://t.co/SUnBScHJvv

L'ÉQUIPE

@lequipe

“If I had done that, I would have taken 20 years”: Serena Williams reacts to Jannik Sinner's doping suspension ➡️ https://t.co/Kq4aXhN5U0 https://t.co/zBGf2DKWuO