Serena Williams fans slam Stephen Smith for saying he’d divorce her for ‘trolling’ ex Drake at Super Bowl

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: Serena Williams has been making waves online after making a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar's halftime show at Super Bowl 2025. While her appearance has earned praise from many fans, it also sparked some controversy, particularly with outspoken sports journalist Stephen A Smith. 

Smith made waves with a bold claim, saying he would have divorced Williams for trolling her ex-boyfriend, Drake, during the performance, igniting a firestorm of debate online 

The comment came after Williams made a surprise appearance at Kendrick Lamar's performance, where she was seen dancing during his track ‘Not Like Us’ - a song many believe is aimed at Drake.

Stephen A Smith shares his comments on Serena Williams' performance at Super Bowl 2025

On Monday's edition of 'First Take', Stephen A Smith weighed in on Serena Williams' recent appearance at the Super Bowl, where she was spotted during Kendrick Lamar’s performance of his alleged diss track aimed at Drake. 

Smith jokingly declared, "If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his a**, ‘cause clearly you don’t belong with me," which prompted laughter from his colleagues. 

He added, "What are you worried about him for when you’re with me? Bye. Bye." Ryan Clark, his co-host, humorously responded, "If you were with Serena Williams, you’re going to be a kept man anyways. Don’t start that."

Smith's comments came just one day after Williams surprised Super Bowl viewers by crip-walking during Lamar’s halftime show, an appearance many interpreted as another dig at Drake, whom she dated on and off from 2011 to 2015. 

While Smith disapproved of her stage moment, Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who watched the show from the stands with his daughter, shared his support for her on X, posting a series of photos from the performance with the caption, "Pretty fantastic halftime show."

Williams and Ohanian, who have two daughters together, continue to share their lives publicly, despite the ongoing buzz around her past with Drake.

Serena Williams' performance has garnered high praise from her sister Venus Williams, as well as fellow tennis players such as Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz.

Internet calls out Stephen Smith over comments on Serena Williams' cameo performance

Following Stephen A Smith’s claims about Serena Williams' cameo at Super Bowl 2025, several internet users have flocked to share their comments.

One user wrote, "This is mad cringe and the fact it’s making its way to the media is a bad look for Serena."

Another slammed, "Meanwhile her husband was okay with it. @stephenasmith Worry about your wife… Oh you don’t have one!"

The third user commented, "Clearly her husband is a secure man. Unlike Stephen."

A user explained, "She was dancing because she was criticized for crip walking after winning the 2012 Olympics.  You’d think stupid Stephen would know that.  Don’t think it had as much to do with Drake as he thinks it did."

One who disagreed with Smith's comments on Williams shared, "I would let Serena do anything, always" A comment read, "I imagine this insecurity is why he's 60 and single lol"

One person deemed Smith's take on Williams "Exactly disgraceful + disgusting."

Serena Williams comments on her own Crip Walk during her Super Bowl 2025 performance

In a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s performance of his Drake diss track "Not Like Us", Serena Williams made an unforgettable appearance. She was seen dressed in a chic blue tennis skirt set, the Grand Slam champion was seen enthusiastically dancing, marking a memorable moment in her post-tennis career.

After the performance, Williams took to social media to celebrate, sharing a clip of her posing for photos on X. Alongside the clip, she wrote, "Let’s go Super Bowl halftime. I died a little!"

She also playfully commented on her iconic Crip Walk, humorously comparing it to her past celebrations at Wimbledon and the Olympics.

“Man, I did not Crip Walk like that at Wimbledon. I would be fined!” the tennis legend joked in a video.

Earlier, Williams had addressed the ongoing drama between Kendrick Lamar and her ex-boyfriend, rapper Drake, which eventually led to the OVO founder filing a lawsuit against Universal Music Group.

During her appearance at the 2024 ESPY Awards in July, she quipped, “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us, not a single one of us, not even me, should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.”

She further added, “He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re going to Forrest Gump him. Seats taken,” according to E! News.

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online