Serena Williams made headlines during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show when she performed the Crip Walk dance on stage. Many fans speculated about the reason behind her surprise appearance, but the tennis legend has finally set the record straight. According to Williams, she joined the show simply because rapper Kendrick Lamar, a fellow Compton native, invited her.
Kendrick Lamar Personally Asked Serena to Join
Williams took to Instagram to explain how her Super Bowl cameo happened. She revealed that Lamar and his team reached out, reminding her of the time she did the Crip Walk after winning a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.
“When @kendricklamar and team called and was like, ‘We’ve been trying to do something forever, what about this? We loved your Crip Walk at the Olympics after you won the gold medal,’” Williams wrote.
She was excited by the idea and quickly agreed. “I’m like Super Bowl? Are you serious? When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a Super Bowl? (Never) Let’s do it!” she added.
Williams’ Dance Sparks Reactions Online
During Lamar’s performance of “Not Like Us,” the cameras cut to Williams dancing on an elevated platform in the stadium. Fans went wild on social media, with many celebrating her appearance as an epic moment. Some even saw it as Lamar’s way of sending a subtle message in his ongoing rivalry with rapper Drake.
However, not everyone was thrilled. An ESPN commentator criticized Williams, suggesting she was “trolling” her rumored ex-boyfriend, Drake. But Williams didn’t seem to mind. She later posted behind-the-scenes footage of her Super Bowl experience, calling it “the best 10 seconds of my life.”
A Dance That Has History
Williams has done the Crip Walk before, but it hasn’t always been well received. In 2012, after defeating Maria Sharapova to win Olympic gold, she celebrated with the same dance move. Some critics said it was inappropriate for such a prestigious event. She also danced again at Wimbledon in 2023, joking in a recent video, “Man, I did not Crip Walk like that at Wimbledon. Oh, I would’ve been fined.”
Support from Her Husband and Fans
Serena’s husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, defended her performance. He reminded fans of the backlash she faced years ago and highlighted the significance of the moment.
“Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows. … This is bigger than the music,” Ohanian wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, fans online were quick to point out that her appearance might have been another strategic move in Lamar’s ongoing feud with Drake. The Toronto rapper, who was rumored to have dated Williams in the early 2010s, has been in a heated rivalry with Lamar. Some of Drake’s lyrics have also hinted at his past relationship with Williams.
Conclusion
Serena Williams’ Super Bowl dance was a surprise moment that thrilled fans and sparked conversations across social media. While some speculated about hidden motives, Williams made it clear—she was there simply because Kendrick Lamar asked. The moment also highlighted how her signature dance move has evolved from a controversial celebration in 2012 to a widely embraced cultural moment in 2025. No matter what, Serena Williams continues to make an impact, both on and off the court.
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