We didn’t deserve the goodness of last week! The Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams’ Crip Walk! It was out of the blue and we needed this for a strong start! A globally renowned athlete, the American legend’s performance was much talked about in the media and by the pundits, who were left divided by Williams’ performance alongside Kendrick Lamar. Moreover, controversy also erupted as her cameo wasn’t taken well by a section of fans and pundits. Amid this, Williams’ husband and Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian came to her rescue.

Williams’ performance with Kendrick Lamar was also considered by some as a subtle dig toward Drake, with whom she was romantically linked in the past according to several reports. However, this didn’t go down well with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who slammed Williams for her dig at Drake. He said, “If I’m your husband, I’m thinking, ‘Why are you up there trolling him—trolling your ex?’ If I’m married, and my wife is going to troll her ex—go back to his a**. Because clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for—and you with me?” 

The American legend was defended by her husband, Ohanian after a fan also backed her in this controversy. When a fan wrote on Twitter, “Stephen is such a weirdo,” highlighting Serena’s mature relationship, Ohanian responded, “American men: we’re a little extreme when it comes to family.” Looks like some will need more than Marvin’s Room to cry in.

However, Stephen A. Smith wasn’t the only one who called out Serena Williams for her subtle dig at Drake during her Super Bowl half-time performance. Even Jason Whitlock, an American sports columnist hit out at Williams for her Crip Walk and invited a strong reaction from Ohanian.

Serena Williams’ husband shuts down columnist Jason Whitlock

The eerie list of controversies is strong on this one. For ages now, critics have questioned Serena Williams’ Crip Walk displays, pointing out its connection to the Crips gang and recalling the tragic loss of her half-sister, Yetunde Price, in a shooting linked to the gang. However, many fans saw it as Serena proudly honoring her Compton roots, just as she did after her 2012 Olympic win.

After Williams performed the same dance at the Super Bowl, Whitlock called her a “controlled clown” for her cameo, inviting strong words from Ohanian. The latter supported his wife and hit out at Whitlock, saying, “You’re the embodiment of peaked in high school, spending decades chasing validation from strangers through Likes and Digital Hugs. This is a lonely road. There’s still time to rewrite the ending — start by working on yourself first.”

As the controversy refuses to settle, Ohanian continues to defend his wife amid the scathing criticism. It goes a long way to show the special and unbreakable bond that Williams and Ohanian share, becoming role models for couples all over the world.