Serena Williams popped up during the Super Bowl halftime show and instantly got people talking. She did a dance move that has some deep cultural history.
Some loved seeing her dance alongside Kendrick Lamar, but others weren’t so thrilled — especially since the dance she did, the ‘Crip walk’, happened during a diss track aimed at Drake, her rumored ex. Read on for the tea.
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Serena Williams makes a surprise appearance at the Super Bowl
So, Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show. She showed up with Kendrick Lamar and joined in on the fun, dancing along to his music.
The Crip walk’s origins and controversy
The dance she did was the ‘Crip walk’, a move originally made famous by Henry ‘Crip’ Heard — a Harlem dancer who, believe it or not, lost an arm and a leg in a car accident. The Crips, a street gang in California, later picked up the dance, which gave it a whole different kind of meaning.
This wasn’t Serena’s first time doing the Crip walk, though. Back in 2012, she did it at Wimbledon after winning Olympic gold, and yeah, people weren’t too happy about it then either.
Serena Williams responds to the backlash
This time around, her Super Bowl dance brought the same kind of backlash. A lot of people were upset that she did the move while dancing to ‘Not Like Us’ — a track about Drake. When asked about it later, she didn’t seem too bothered.
“Man, I did not Crip walk like that at Wimbledon,” she said. “I would’ve been fined.”
Serena Williams’ complicated history with Drake
Speaking of Drake — he’s made plenty of references to Serena in his songs. He once said his track ‘Too Good’ was actually about “me and Serena.” The two were rumored to have been dating on and off from around 2011 to 2015.
The significance of ‘Not Like Us’
The song she danced to, ‘Not Like Us’, isn’t just any track. It’s a diss aimed directly at Drake. So when Serena busted out that move, people couldn’t help but connect the dots — especially with their history.
Fans and critics react to her performance
Reactions were all over the place. Some fans thought it was awesome to see her joining in and having fun. Others were more critical, saying she shouldn’t have done a dance with such strong gang associations — especially during a diss track.
Her husband’s response to the criticism
Amid all the noise, Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, stepped in to defend her. On his X account, he shared, “Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows…. This is bigger than the music.”
He said she had every right to enjoy herself and shouldn’t have to deal with so much negativity.
The performance’s lasting impact
Serena’s Super Bowl appearance didn’t just get people talking about her. It also reopened conversations about the Crip walk — where it came from, what it means, and whether it belongs in mainstream performances.
And, of course, it got everyone gossiping again about Serena, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake.
Last Updated on February 13, 2025 by Reem Haqqi
