The American tennis legend Serena Williams‘ husband Alexis Ohanian is one of the co-founders of Reddit. The 39-year-old also served as a board member until 2020. However, following a landmark incident that changed the political and social scenario of the US, Alexis resigned from his post.
The 39-year-old wanted to lead by example and make a change. Serena also came forward and supported her husband while he made the challenging decision. Here’s what happened.
Serena Williams lauded her husband’s exemplary decision
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Back in May 2020, America experienced large-scale protests after the death of George Floyd. People took to the streets to raise their voices against the rising hate crimes against the African-American community. The talk about equal representation was at its peak and Alexis Ohanian chose this opportunity to set an example. Here’s what Ohanian tweeted before resigning from the Reddit board.
“I’ve resigned as a member of the Reddit board, I have urged them to fill my seat with a black candidate, + I will use future gains on my Reddit stock to serve the black community, chiefly to curb racial hate, and I’m starting with a pledge of $1M to @kaepernick7’s @yourrightscamp.”
Having diverse views on any boards is important. So proud of you Alexis. I know Olympia will be too https://t.co/kVUaJZoe7v
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 5, 2020
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams, also stood by her husband’s side and came up with an appreciation post for his huge $10 billion move.
“Having diverse views on any boards is important. So proud of you Alexis. I know Olympia will be too,” Serena wrote.
Ohanian led by example and brought about the much-needed change in the given scenario, in the hope that it will help society and guide the future generation in the right direction. The decision from Ohanian also was hugely inspired by what Serena had faced in her initial days of career.
Alexis Ohanian recalls the challenges she had to face
Discrimination based on color is a global problem. Even the greats, like Serena Williams, had to go through it in their career’s initial phase. The 23-time Grand Slam champion recently retired from professional tennis. While the 41-year-old played her last tournament, the whole world was on its feet.
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However, this wasn’t the case when Serena started her career. Her husband Alexis Ohanian recalled that the American had to go through a lot of unfair decisions and played in front of a crowd that didn’t cheer for her.
Watch this story: Venus and Serena Williams’ 21-Year Broadcast Record Gets Finally Broken…
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However, the legend battled it all. On and off the court, she fought. When she retired, Serena brought a change already. A change that now allows more girls like her to follow their dreams.
What is your favorite Serena Williams memory? Let us know in the comments section.