At Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance and performed the famous Crip Walk. This caused mixed reactions from the public and the media.

Some critics, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, criticized Serena’s actions, saying that her dancing to “Not Like Us” – a song that was said to be directed at rapper Drake, with whom she had a relationship – was inappropriate given her current marital status. Smith even said that if he were in a similar situation, he would “divorce” his wife.

In response to these criticisms, Alexis Ohanian, Serena’s husband and Reddit co-founder, spoke up to defend his wife. He noted that Serena had been criticized for performing the Crip Walk at Wimbledon 13 years ago and suggested that the current negative reactions showed a lack of understanding of the cultural context of the dance. Ohanian wrote on social media: “Some of you have no idea how Serena was criticized for doing this dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and that just goes to show… This is bigger than music.”

Serena also responded humorously to the incident, sharing on social media: “I didn’t Crip Walk like that at Wimbledon or I would have been fined!” She also posted a behind-the-scenes video of her rehearsal for the performance, showing her cheerfulness and confidence in the face of mixed reactions.

Despite the mixed reviews, Serena Williams’ appearance at Super Bowl LIX was a memorable moment, showcasing the intersection of sports and pop culture.