When sports journalist Jason Whitlock revived his decade-old criticism of Serena Williams' Crip Walk, her husband Alexis Ohanian's response was both swift and scathing.
- February 14, 2025
AceShowbiz - Serena Williams' brief Crip Walk during Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show was meant to be a nostalgic nod to her triumphant 2012 Wimbledon celebration. However, not everyone viewed it favorably.
Sports commentator Jason Whitlock slammed Serena's dance, much like he did back in 2012 when she celebrated her Olympic gold win with the same move. He demanded an apology then, and now he was back with similar criticism.
Whitlock called the retired Tennis player a "controlled clown" for her move and her husband Alexis Ohanian a "simp" for allowing her to do the cameo, which was also perceived by many as a dig to her rumored ex Drake especially given Lamar's "Not Like Us" lyrics.
Ohanian was quick to respond with an articulate and incisive clapback. He called Whitlock out for being "the embodiment of peaked in high school," accusing him of chasing "validation from strangers through Likes and Digital Hugs" and suggested that his bitterness stemmed from unfulfilled life expectations.
In one of his tweets, Ohanian scoffed, "I get it - you're 57, and life didn't turn out the way you imagined. That kind of disappointment must be exhausting. You're the embodiment of peaking in high school, spending decades chasing validation from strangers through Likes and Digital Hugs - only to find that no amount of external approval fills the void."
The eloquence and ferocity of Ohanian's response had fans and followers buzzing, many praising him for his unwavering support for Serena.
Another critic, Stephen A. Smith, said he would have divorced his wife if she pulled the same stunt as Serena, suggesting the tennis ace still had lingering feelings for Drake.
Unfazed by the buzzing noise, Serena quickly shut down these theories, stating that Kendrick's team had long wanted her involved as a tribute to her 2012 dance, clarifying on Instagram that her cameo was about legacy, not personal history.
"When [Lamar] and team called and was like 'We've been trying to do something forever, what about this? We loved your Crip Walk at the Olympics after you won the gold medal,' " she recalled.
"I'm like, Super Bowl? Are you serious? When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a Super Bowl? (Never) let's do it! I knew my winning dance after the Olympics would pay off one day. End of story."
