Serena Williams at the Super Bowl: Crip Walks, Clapbacks, and the Internet Losing Its Mind

February 14, 2025

The Super Bowl halftime show is usually about musicians, but this year, a tennis legend somehow stole the spotlight. Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes of all time, had the internet spiraling—not for hitting a serve, but for casually doing the Crip Walk in the middle of Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance.

What was supposed to be a celebration of hip-hop and sports unity quickly turned into a full-blown debate featuring sports analysts, social media meltdowns, and even fast-food chains weighing in. The internet was split between those cheering for Serena’s dance moves and those acting like she personally walked into their living room and stepped on their gaming consoles.

When Serena Williams Became Part of a Rap Feud

Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was already loaded with drama. His performance of "Not Like Us," the now-infamous diss track aimed at Drake, was as subtle as a car alarm. But nobody expected Serena Williams to show up and make things even more interesting.

As Lamar performed the song, Serena appeared on stage and casually dropped a Crip Walk. It wasn’t the first time she had done it. Back in 2012, she celebrated an Olympic gold medal with the same dance move, which at the time caused a brief media uproar. Fast forward to 2025, and history repeated itself, except this time, she did it on a Super Bowl stage in front of millions.

Cue the internet losing its collective mind.

Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock Lose Their Composure

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wasted no time turning Serena’s halftime cameo into a dramatic monologue. He declared that if his wife ever did something like that, she might as well go back to her ex. Social media immediately responded with confusion, mostly because nobody knew how he turned a dance move into a marriage debate.

Meanwhile, Jason Whitlock took things to another level, calling Serena a "controlled clown" and insisting that she owed the world an apology. He compared her Crip Walk to making an inappropriate joke in church. At this point, it wasn’t even about the dance anymore—just an excuse for sports analysts to give dramatic speeches about nothing.

Enter Alexis Ohanian: Internet Husband of the Year

While critics were busy hyperventilating on national television, Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, had no patience for the nonsense. The Reddit co-founder and professional Twitter sniper fired back at Whitlock, suggesting that instead of spending time criticizing his wife, maybe he should focus on something more productive—like improving his own life.

Social media had a field day. Fans praised Ohanian for always defending Serena, with one person tweeting that he protects her like a basketball player blocking shots. Another joked that they need a partner who defends them like Ohanian but also has billions in the bank.

Ohanian wasn’t just shutting down critics. He was setting a new standard for how to handle online nonsense.

The Internet Reacts: Memes, Meltdowns, and McDonald’s Commentary

Predictably, social media exploded with reactions. Half of Twitter defended Serena, saying she was just having fun and enjoying the moment. The other half acted like she had personally caused them emotional distress.

Then, just when things couldn’t get weirder, McDonald's decided to jump into the conversation. Their official account tweeted, "Serena served up a Grand Slam… but y’all aren’t ready for that conversation."

When a fast-food chain starts roasting your critics, you’ve officially won the internet.

The Real Question: Was the Crip Walk That Serious?

The Crip Walk originated in Compton and has deep cultural ties to the area. Both Serena Williams and Kendrick Lamar are from Compton, so her doing the dance wasn’t exactly shocking. But that didn’t stop commentators from acting like it was a national security threat.

Meanwhile, nobody seems to have a problem with the fact that "YMCA" is played at every sporting event, despite the fact that nobody even knows what that dance is about.

If people can jump around spelling letters with their arms, surely Serena Williams can move her feet for five seconds without it turning into a crisis.

Final Score: Serena Williams Wins Again

At the end of the day, Serena Williams doesn’t need approval from critics. She’s won 23 Grand Slam titles, been an Olympic gold medalist, and completely redefined what it means to be a global sports icon. If she wants to dance at the Super Bowl, she can. The internet will just have to deal with it.

Meanwhile, Drake is probably sitting in his Toronto mansion wondering how he ended up in a feud where even Serena Williams is getting more attention than him.

Final Thought: Let Serena Dance

For all the outrage, one thing is obvious—Serena Williams is happier, wealthier, and more successful than any of her critics. She danced for five seconds, went home, and let the internet argue about it for days.

That, right there, is elite strategy.