While attending the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Serena Williams encountered an unexpected hiccup when her family was refused entry to a rooftop restaurant.
On Monday, August 5, the tennis icon shared her disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Yikes @peninsulaparis. I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places 🫠 but never with my kids. Always a first. 🙄#Olympic2024. You’re Really Gonna Reject Me?!?!”
At 42, Williams accompanied her post with a snapshot of the hotel sign, quickly attracting attention from fans. One commenter jokingly remarked, “How does one get denied when they are Serena Williams…… lol,” while another encouraged her with, “Their loss, queen. Better doors will open for you automatically ❤️.”
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Some fans suggested the hotel might have racially profiled her. One commented, “You should claim racism and get someone fired,” while another added, “It doesn’t matter how much money you have. Racism doesn’t care bro 🤣.”
However, not all feedback was supportive. Some critics felt she was expecting special treatment. One user remarked, “There might be something else going on in Paris…. Maybe not everything is about you? Just a thought,” and another chimed in with, “Elitist whines because elite restaurant and bar are fully booked. So sad.”
In response, the hotel issued an apology, clarifying that the rooftop was fully booked despite its empty appearance. They wrote, “Dear Mrs. Williams, please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”
Williams, who stepped away from professional tennis in 2022, is in Paris with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters, Olympia, 6, and Adira, 1.