Serena Williams says she 'absolutely' did not shade ex Drake with Super Bowl halftime show crip walk

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Serena Williams has finally addressed the buzz surrounding her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 2025 halftime show in New Orleans.

The 43-year-old made a brief but headline-making cameo, dancing to Lamar’s hit 'Not Like Us' — a diss track aimed at Drake, with whom the tennis legend was romantically linked back in 2011.

Her playful crip walk sparked a wave of speculation online, with fans wondering if she was subtly throwing shade. But Williams has shut down the rumors, clarifying that there was "absolutely no shade" intended toward Drake.

Serena Williams addresses controversy surrounding her Super Bowl LIX halftime cameo

In a recent interview with TIME, Serena Williams addressed the controversy surrounding her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl 2025 halftime performance, specifically her dance to Lamar’s hit track 'Not Like Us, widely interpreted as a diss toward Drake.

When asked whether her cameo was a dig at her former flame, Williams shut down the rumors. “Absolutely not,” she said firmly. “[I would] never do that.”

She expressed disappointment that people would assume such intentions. “[It’s] sad that anyone would ever think that,” she said, adding, “I respect how they could. 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.”

Following the performance, the Federal Communications Commission reportedly received 125 complaints, with at least one accusing Williams of “promoting gang affiliation” due to her brief crip walk onstage.

The moment echoed a similar incident in 2012, when Williams did the same dance after defeating Maria Sharapova at the London Olympics, as per People. At the time, critics also tied the move to gang culture.

Reflecting on that moment, Williams told reporters back then, “First of all, it was just a dance. I didn’t know that’s what it was called.”

She added, “Second, why are you asking me that? If anything, you should be trying to ask me questions to lift me up not bring such things … I'm done with that question.”

Now, more than a decade later, Williams admits she’s uncertain about how she feels regarding her Super Bowl cameo. “I don't know if I regret it or not,” she told TIME. “I don't know the answer to that." 

Internet divided as Serena Williams denies shading Drake with Super Bowl halftime show cameo

Netizens flocked to social media to share their thoughts on Serena Williams' remarks regarding her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX halftime show. 

A Redditor who disagreed wrote, "Even if true, it was still shade to Drake from Kendrick. Useful prop I guess," and another sarcastically said, "It was just a funny coincidence." One expressed shock at her remarks, writing, "What??? The whole song was about him." 

A person asked, "If it wasnt why was she there crip walking to 'they not like us' and no other song?" 

A Facebook user agreed with the tennis legend and wrote, "Not on her part. But definitely on Kendrick’s part," whereas someone else added, "And even if it was. So freaking what Drake is old news and he needs to move on that's what you get for using women. Eat it. Good job Serena."

"She didn’t show for the pop up. She did the cwalk for all the haters that had something to say when she walked after her historic win," another comment read. 

One more wrote, "If she said it wasn’t I believe her. She went through a lot with being a professional tennis player and they didn’t cut her any slack. They not like us fit her situation." 

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