Serena Williams responds to criticism over Crip Walk at Super Bowl
The tennis legend addresses reactions to her dance move, sparking debate over cultural expression and controversy.
Serena Williams made a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, effortlessly hitting the crip walk for a few seconds—enough to send the internet into a frenzy. Now, the tennis icon is speaking out about the viral moment.
For a brief moment, the world of sports and hip-hop collided in the most unexpected way. As Kendrick Lamar delivered a fiery performance of Not Like Us at the Super Bowl halftime show, cameras panned to the corner of the stage—where none other than Serena Williams stood, casually crip walking with the kind of effortless cool only she could pull off.
The crip walk, a dance move created in the 1970s by Robert “Sugar Bear” Jackson, has long been associated with the streets of Compton, California—where both Williams and Lamar grew up. Seeing one of the greatest tennis players of all time joining in on the cultural moment added another layer of excitement to an already electric performance.
Serena and the crip walk—this isn’t her first time
Longtime fans of Williams may remember that this wasn’t the first time she has shown off the dance. Back in 2012, after winning gold at the London Olympics, she briefly crip walked on the Wimbledon court. The move sparked controversy, with some praising it as an authentic moment of joy, while others criticized it due to the dance’s gang-related origins.
At the time, LA Times sports journalist Bill Plaschke tweeted, “Serena C-walking at Wimbledon only shows how long she’s been away from home, separated from violence and death associated with that dance.”
Fans were divided. Some defended Williams, saying she was simply celebrating, while others found it inappropriate. One social media user responded to Plaschke’s criticism, writing, “The suburb kids here in Pittsburgh crip walk at proms. Not everything is controversy.” Another added, “Moment of raw emotion. Questionable dance choice. Not disrespectful. We should embrace realness from athletes.”
Super Bowl moment goes viral
When Lamar took the stage at the 2025 Super Bowl, anticipation was high. The moment the beat dropped for Not Like Us, the stadium erupted—and just as the track hit one of its most infectious moments, the camera found Williams effortlessly vibing.
Fans were quick to speculate that her appearance had a deeper meaning. The song, widely seen as a diss track aimed at Drake, added fuel to the fire. Williams reportedly dated the Canadian rapper before marrying Alexis Ohanian, and by featuring her in his performance, Lamar took his ongoing feud with Drake to another level.
One fan summed it up perfectly on social media: “If there was any doubt where Serena stood in the Drake vs. Kendrick feud, it’s gone now.”
Social media reacts – “Serena won the Super Bowl”
Though her appearance lasted just a few seconds, Williams’ dance move had social media buzzing.
“This game sucks. Serena won the Super Bowl,” tweeted one fan, referencing the Kansas City Chiefs’ crushing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Another wrote, “Serena making an appearance too? That’s a power move. Kendrick repping Compton, Serena bringing the legend status—definitely a moment.”
A third added, “Fierce!! My only complaint… the camera needed to be on Serena longer!!!”
Williams responds to her viral moment
After the Eagles clinched the championship, Williams took to social media to acknowledge her unexpected halftime cameo. She posted a clip of herself at the Super Bowl, captioning it, “Super Bowl halftime show babyyyyyyyyy.”
In the clip, she joked, “Man, I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon. I would’ve been fined.”
Her post has been viewed over 2.7 million times, with fans flooding the comments with praise.
One user wrote, “Serena Williams! The Converse, the outfit, the dance moves, the feature in Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us Super Bowl halftime show… winning on and off the tennis court.”
Another added, “Kendrick bringing one of Drake’s exes out to literally dance on his grave was so good.”
A third summed it up: “The Legend herself. You represented.”
A five-second dance move that stole the show
Serena Williams didn’t need a microphone, a touchdown, or even an official role in the show to steal the spotlight. All it took was five seconds, a legendary dance move, and the right song at the right time.
And just like that, Serena Williams won the Super Bowl.
What do you think of Williams’ crip walk at the Super Bowl? Share your thoughts with us!
