Whoopi Goldberg believes Stephen A. Smith’s feedback on Serena Williams’ look within the Tremendous Bowl halftime present have been out of bounds.
On a Tuesday episode of “The View,” Goldberg threw a flag on the play after Smith made a number of pointed remarks concerning the tennis icon. Throughout Kendrick Lamar’s halftime present, Williams notably did the Crip Stroll dance transfer because the rapper carried out his hit Drake diss, “Not Like Us,” which sparked Smith’s ire.
“If I’m married, and my wife is going to join [in] trolling her ex, go back to his ass,” Smith mentioned.
Upon listening to his commentary, a puzzled Goldberg requested, “Why wasn’t it, ‘Damn, Serena was great?’”
Pedro Gomes through Getty Pictures
Goldberg continued to specific her confusion, questioning why Smith would revive outdated relationship drama — referencing Williams’ rumored romantic previous with Drake — moderately than celebrating the achievement of a Black girl.
Her co-hosts rapidly backed her up. Sunny Hostin delivered a historical past lesson to Smith, noting that Williams’ execution of the Crip Stroll went far past contributing to Lamar’s rivalry towards Drake.
“Serena Crip Walking was really about what happened to her when she did the same Crip Walk after she beat [Maria] Sharapova in the 2012 Olympics,” Hostin mentioned. She added that Williams confronted “a lot of backlash” for the act earlier than explaining that the 23-time Grand Slam title holder was “paying homage to her roots from Compton” and embodying “Black joy and Black excellence.”
Emilee Chinn through Getty Pictures
Goldberg then continued her remarks on Smith’s criticisms, saying that Williams “got a chance to do something she wanted to do, and she went and did it,” whereas noting that the previous tennis participant is “happily married.”
Williams’ husband, tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, didn’t discover fault in her efficiency. Whereas on X, previously referred to as Twitter, Ohanian commented that the halftime present was “pretty fantastic.”
Go Advert-Free — And Defend The Free Press
Already contributed? Log in to cover these messages.
“View” co-host Sara Haines acknowledged Ohanian’s reward of the efficiency, saying, “My husband would be the one cheering me on the loudest. I think it says more about the security of the man, than the marriage.”
