While Kendrick Lamar’s performance during the Super Bowl LIV halftime show may have baffled some, many fans were thrilled to see Serena Williams make a cameo. Lamar’s act crescendoed into his hit song “Not Like Us,” which serves as a diss track aimed at rival rapper Drake. In the midst of this performance of the Grammy Award-winning Record of the Year — a track that explicitly and implicitly accuses Drake of being a pedophile — Williams was spotted crip-walking, signaling their shared Compton roots.
Serena Williams had to pop off with Kendrick during “Not Like Us”
Compton’s finest 😤 pic.twitter.com/9OIvVcmNnR
— espnW (@espnW) February 10, 2025
This appearance was not just coincidental; as many noted, the 39-time major winner was previously romantically linked to Drake, who has referenced their past in several tracks. While ESPN’s Molly Qerim expressed her admiration for Williams’ surprise appearance in New Orleans, her co-host Stephen A. Smith voiced criticism. He pointed out that despite her history with Drake, Williams has been married to Alexis Ohanian since 2017, stating, “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass. ‘Cause clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”
Stephen A. Smith on Serena Williams’ cameo during the Super Bowl halftime show: “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass. ‘Cause clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.” pic.twitter.com/uiYI2ltK4k
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 10, 2025
Qerim and Ryan Clark quickly defended Williams. Clark commented, “If you were with Serena Williams, you’re going to be a kept man anyways,” to which Smith replied with a knowing smile, “Really? You sure about that?” Shannon Sharpe chimed in, reminding everyone that Ohanian is no lightweight, having a reported net worth of $150 million as the founder of Reddit.
For his part, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky, a pending sports media free agent, seemed unaware of the history between Williams and Drake. Notably, both Williams and Ohanian took to social media to celebrate the performance, showcasing a level of confidence in their marriage, contrasting sharply with Smith’s hypothetical concerns.
