Tennis legend Serena Williams made a surprise appearance at the Super Bowl during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance, catching attention with her crip walk dance move. The dance, which has deep roots in Los Angeles, was a nod to their shared hometown.
Her performance brought back memories of the 2012 Wimbledon controversy, where she faced criticism for celebrating her Olympic gold medal with the same move after defeating Maria Sharapova. Critics at the time claimed it glorified gang culture, but Williams dismissed the backlash, stating it was just a dance.
After the Super Bowl, Williams responded playfully in a video, joking that her Wimbledon dance was much different and would have resulted in a fine. She reassured fans that her Super Bowl performance was all in good spirit.
The crip walk originated in the 1970s within Los Angeles’ street culture and later became popular in hip-hop. While some have questioned its use, Williams has always stood by her actions, with supporters calling past criticism unfair and even racially biased.
Beyond the dance, Williams’ appearance sparked even more interest due to her past connection with rapper Drake. Lamar performed his hit diss track Not Like Us, which takes shots at Drake and even mentions Williams indirectly, suggesting the rapper should avoid speaking about her.
Williams, who grew up in Compton, California, has been married to Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian since 2017. Despite the social media buzz, her Super Bowl moment was all about celebrating music, culture, and her lasting impact as a sports and entertainment icon.
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