Serena Williams Clears Up The Controversy Around Her Super Bowl Performance

Serena Williams said her dance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance was “absolutely not” a diss at rumored ex-boyfriend Drake.

“I would never do that,” Williams told Time in an interview published Wednesday. “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 have never had negative feelings towards him. We’ve known him for so many years.”

During Lamar’s halftime performance in February’s Super Bowl, Williams, along with backup dancers, crip walked while Lamar performed “Not Like Us.” The diss track toward fellow rapper Drake includes the line, “Better not speak on Serena,” seemingly in response to Drake’s line, “Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie” in his 2022 song “Middle of the Ocean.”

Williams’ appearance made waves as many suspected it was meant to be a diss at the subject of the song.

The tennis icon told Time that she discussed with her team whether she should partake in the performance, considering it would probably draw some kind of negativity. 

“Who would have thought that a tennis player from Compton would be regarded as one of the best tennis players of all time?” Williams told Time. “It was just putting an exclamation on it.”

Williams and Drake were rumored to have dated in 2015; however, her rep told People in 2015 that the two are just “longtime friends.”

Williams told Time that she took two shots of tequila before performing in the Super Bowl, with her team telling her not to take a third. 

The FCC received 125 complaints about Lamar’s performance, including an allegation that Williams’ crip walk was promoting “gang affiliation,” according to TMZ. 

“I don’t know if I regret it or not,” Williams told Time about her decision to dance. “I don’t know the answer to that.”