Serena Williams Dancing at the Halftime Show Means More Than You Think
“Say, Drake, I heard you like ‘em young.” The final phrase that ended the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef this Superbowl Sunday. In his performance, which was full of metaphors and guest appearances, Kendrick Lamar’s show at the Superbowl left many fans speechless online. However, one special guest sent the internet into a flurry: Serena Williams. Dressed in a blue tennis skirt with a matching blue overshirt, Williams was seen “crip walking” on the world’s biggest stage. For many, her appearance was unlikely and maybe a little random, but once you learn her history, the performance makes a little more sense.
Rumors swirled in 2011 that professional tennis player Serena Williams and rapper Drake were in a relationship. Insiders close to their relationship claim that they were on and off again in 2015, with evidence circling the internet of Drake sitting in the stands at Williams’ matches. Many fans did speculate about a strong relationship, however, nothing was officially announced. The signs, however, were all there. He attended her most intense matches during the Wimbledon tennis tournament, spotted sitting next to her sister Venus. Drake has also mentioned Williams by name in several of his songs.
In his 2013 song, “Worst Behavior,” Drake sings, “I’m with my whole set tennis matches at the crib / I swear I could never beat Serena when she’s playing with her left.” In 2022, Drake directly called out Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, in his song “Middle of the Ocean,” where he states, “Sidebar, Serena, your husband is a groupie / He claims we don’t got a problem but / No boo it is like you coming for sushi.” Then, in 2024, Drake revealed that his song “Too Good” was written about Serena Williams. In a behind-the-scenes video of Drake talking to his mom, he stated, “I get heavy on a couple joints, but this is more about me and Serena.” For years after their alleged relationship, Drake continued to show up to Williams’ matches, despite her relationship with now-husband Alexis Ohanian.
It wasn’t just her history with Drake that made her Superbowl appearance notable but Williams’ choice of “crip walking” was also incredibly significant. At the 2012 Olympics, after winning a gold medal, Williams crip walked in celebration. She was met with a lot of backlash and criticism for this celebratory reaction. Journalists and fans alike berated her with accusations of gang affiliation. Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock wrote, “Serena deserved to be criticized and she should’ve immediately apologized. Wimbledon isn’t the place to break out a dance popularized by California Crip gang members.” Although the dance is closely associated with the Crips, there is also a significant dance culture surrounding Compton, Williams' place of birth.
A large source of backlash after the Superbowl was Williams' family history surrounding gang violence. In 2003, Serena and Venus Williams' oldest sister Yetunde Price was shot and killed by a Crip member during a drive-by shooting. Plenty of people took to social media after Williams chose to dance, with one X user saying, “The irony is hard to ignore—her father dedicated his life to keeping her away from the streets, yet here she is, Crip walking on national TV in front of millions. Not to mention one of the sisters was killed by a crip. The optics are wild.” Williams has yet to respond to the discussions online.
With her performance at the Superbowl, Williams reclaimed the crip walk for herself. Between being constantly talked about by Drake, to stirring up controversy at the Olympics, Williams has continued to not let public opinion perturb her.
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Written By: Anna Reed
Edited By: Olivia Wagner & Hollis Humphrey
