Serena Williams has been booked, busy, and staying unbothered but when she stepped out at the Super Bowl halftime show with Kendrick Lamar, fans immediately clocked what looked like a pointed message. The crip walk, the timing, the Kendrick vs. Drake feud ? It screamed shade to the internet. But Serena’s finally setting the record straight: not only was it not about Drake, but she was just vibing with two shots of tequila and some Compton pride fueling the moment.
Serena Williams says there was no shade toward Drake and she would never mock him publicly
Serena told Time that her crip walk during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime set wasn’t a jab at anyone, especially not her ex, Drake. “Absolutely not,” she said when asked if it was meant to stir drama. “I would never do that.” She doubled down, calling it “sad” that people even saw it that way. “I’ve never had negative feelings toward him.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.”
Let’s be real: Kendrick performing “Not Like Us”, his Drake diss track while bringing out Serena, who briefly dated Drake in 2011? It felt loaded. Social media went full detective mode, with fans assuming her cameo was a sneaky dig at her ex. Memes flew, tweets popped, and then came the FCC complaints, 125 in total, including one claiming Williams promoted gang culture during the performance. Yeah, it got that intense.
As for that crip walk? Serena says it was never that deep. She’s done it before, remember the 2012 Olympics? and caught backlash back then too . “It was just a dance,” she said then, and she still stands by that. This time, though, she had a little liquid courage on her side. “I took two shots of tequila before going onstage,” she admitted. And whether or not she regrets the moment? She’s still unsure. "I don't know if I regret it or not,” she told Time . “I don't know the answer to that.”
Her connection with Kendrick Lamar runs deep as both stars rep Compton with pride
Serena and Kendrick go way back, they’re both Compton natives, and that shared history means something. Before the show, Kendrick promised “storytelling” would be the focus of his performance, and who better to join him than a hometown icon? Their link wasn’t about shade, it was about legacy. Serena showed up for the story, the hometown love, and maybe a little tequila-fueled hype.
Also read - Taylor Swift and Serena Williams were both at the Super Bowl, but here's why they didn’t meet
Whether you saw it as shade or celebration, Serena made headlines with just a few moves and she’s staying graceful through it all. Her message is clear: no beef, no bad blood, just a good time. And Drake? Well, let’s hope he can appreciate a clean crip walk when he sees one.
Serena Williams says there was no shade toward Drake and she would never mock him publicly
Serena Williams says her Super Bowl Crip Walk with Kendrick Lamar was ‘absolutely not’ to shade Drake 👀
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) April 16, 2025
“I would never do that. 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… pic.twitter.com/HpteKK0534
Serena told Time that her crip walk during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime set wasn’t a jab at anyone, especially not her ex, Drake. “Absolutely not,” she said when asked if it was meant to stir drama. “I would never do that.” She doubled down, calling it “sad” that people even saw it that way. “I’ve never had negative feelings toward him.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.”
Let’s be real: Kendrick performing “Not Like Us”, his Drake diss track while bringing out Serena, who briefly dated Drake in 2011? It felt loaded. Social media went full detective mode, with fans assuming her cameo was a sneaky dig at her ex. Memes flew, tweets popped, and then came the FCC complaints, 125 in total, including one claiming Williams promoted gang culture during the performance. Yeah, it got that intense.
As for that crip walk? Serena says it was never that deep. She’s done it before, remember the 2012 Olympics? and caught backlash back then too . “It was just a dance,” she said then, and she still stands by that. This time, though, she had a little liquid courage on her side. “I took two shots of tequila before going onstage,” she admitted. And whether or not she regrets the moment? She’s still unsure. "I don't know if I regret it or not,” she told Time . “I don't know the answer to that.”
Her connection with Kendrick Lamar runs deep as both stars rep Compton with pride
Serena Williams makes an appearance during Kendrick Lamar's performance of "Not Like Us" at the #SuperBowlLIX halftime show pic.twitter.com/3LzvubFcWs
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 10, 2025
Serena and Kendrick go way back, they’re both Compton natives, and that shared history means something. Before the show, Kendrick promised “storytelling” would be the focus of his performance, and who better to join him than a hometown icon? Their link wasn’t about shade, it was about legacy. Serena showed up for the story, the hometown love, and maybe a little tequila-fueled hype.
Also read - Taylor Swift and Serena Williams were both at the Super Bowl, but here's why they didn’t meet
Whether you saw it as shade or celebration, Serena made headlines with just a few moves and she’s staying graceful through it all. Her message is clear: no beef, no bad blood, just a good time. And Drake? Well, let’s hope he can appreciate a clean crip walk when he sees one.
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