The Super Bowl halftime show is always a major spectacle, but this year’s performance, headlined by Kendrick Lamar in New Orleans, sparked a heated debate that went far beyond the music. Tennis legend Serena Williams made a brief but impactful appearance during Lamar’s set, and while many fans celebrated her involvement, not everyone was pleased. The backlash came from an unexpected place: ESPN’s First Take podcast, where commentators Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe expressed their discomfort with Williams’ performance. Their unease was tied to rumors of a past romantic connection between Williams and rapper Drake, with both men suggesting that Williams, as a married woman, should not have been “trolling” her ex. The moment in question occurred during Lamar’s performance of “Not Like Us,” a track widely interpreted as a diss aimed at Drake.
The critique from Smith and Sharpe was rooted in their opinion that Williams’ involvement in the performance was unseemly, particularly given her marriage to tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian. They argued that a wife should not engage in public displays that could be perceived as mocking or taunting a former partner, even if the moment was part of a larger artistic statement. However, their take didn’t go unchallenged. Former NFL player Ryan Clark, a guest on the show, pushed back against their perspective, reminding them that Williams’ actions were about more than just personal drama. “She’s from Compton,” Clark said, highlighting Williams’ shared roots with Kendrick Lamar and the cultural significance of her performance. Williams’ “Crip Walk” during the show was a nod to the cultural history of Compton in the 1970s, a fact that seemed to escape Smith and Sharpe.
Despite Clark’s explanation, Smith and Sharpe remained unconvinced. “We know that,” Smith replied, dismissing the cultural context. “Even if she’s not from Compton, everybody knows her and Drake were together at one time,” Sharpe added, doubling down on the idea that Williams’ performance was an attempt to “get their lick back on Drake.” Their comments reflect a broader societal tendency to scrutinize women’s behavior, particularly in the context of their relationships, while often overlooking the cultural or artistic significance of their actions. This double standard was on full display as the two unmarried commentators lectured Williams on how a wife should behave.
The conversation took a particularly heated turn when Smith declared, “If I’m married, and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass.” Clark quickly clapped back, humorously reminding Smith that if he ever dated someone like Serena Williams, he’d likely be what’s known as a “kept man” due to their vastly different net worths. While the exchange was lighthearted, it underscored the larger issue of men policing women’s behavior, especially in public forums. Meanwhile, Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, took to social media to defend his wife. On X (formerly Twitter), he praised the halftime show as “pretty fantastic” and pointed out that Williams had faced similar backlash in the past for the same dance. “Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows,” he wrote. “This is bigger than the music.”
Ohanian’s comments highlight the ways in which Williams has long been a target of scrutiny, both on and off the court. Her Crip Walk at Wimbledon in 2012, for instance, was criticized by some who deemed it inappropriate for the tennis world. Yet, for Williams, the dance has always been about pride and connection to her roots. Compton, a city with a rich and complex history, has produced some of the most influential figures in sports and entertainment, and Williams’ performance was a celebration of that legacy. By participating in Lamar’s halftime show, she was not only honoring her hometown but also using her platform to showcase a piece of Black cultural history that often goes unappreciated outside of the community.
The debate over Williams’ performance reflects a broader conversation about how women, particularly Black women, are expected to navigate their public and private lives. While male celebrities are often celebrated for their confidence and swagger, women are frequently held to a different standard, with their actions scrutinized for signs of impropriety or disrespect. This double standard is especially evident in the way Williams was criticized for her involvement in the halftime show, with Smith and Sharpe framing her actions as petty and unbecoming of a married woman. Yet, as Ryan Clark and Alexis Ohanian pointed out, there was far more to Williams’ performance than met the eye. It was a celebration of her heritage, a nod to the cultural legacy of Compton, and a testament to her ability to blend athleticism and artistry. While the backlash may have overshadowed the moment for some, it also sparked an important conversation about the ways in which women’s actions are policed and the importance of understanding context in public discourse. As the world continues to grapple with these issues, Serena Williams remains an undeniably powerful figure, unapologetically embracing her identity and using her platform to celebrate the things that matter most to her.
