Earlier this week, Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, made waves by appearing on ESPN’s First Take. While on the show, he confronted Stephen A. Smith over his earlier remarks about Serena Williams’ Super Bowl halftime “dance.” The tension dates back to February, when Serena surprised viewers by joining Kendrick Lamar’s performance and doing a Crip Walk during “Not Like Us.” When the show later broke down her presence on stage, Smith took aim at Ohanian and their marriage, prompting Ohanian to finally respond.
The Super Bowl moment in question came during the LIX halftime show when Kendrick Lamar performed his diss track aimed at Drake. Midway through, the camera panned to Serena Williams, who proceeded to Crip Walk on a raised platform for several seconds. The move recalled a similar dance she performed at Wimbledon and the Olympics in earlier years. Considering that the music was clearly calling out Drake, someone Williams had been romantically linked to in the past, many onlookers read the moment as a pointed gesture.
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Public reaction was swift and mixed. Some praised her as reclaiming a narrative and participating in a culturally rich, symbolic moment. Others criticized it as provocative or disrespectful. In particular, Stephen A. Smith weighed in relatively harshly. On First Take, he said “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass…What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.” His comments stirred backlash, with critics accusing Smith of overstepping his bounds and attempting to police Williams’ expression and autonomy. Serena herself later clarified in an interview that her dance was not meant as shade to Drake and that she “absolutely” would never intend that.
So when Ohanian showed up on First Take this week, he didn’t waste the opportunity. Mid-conversation, he turned to Smith (who was on screen, not in the studio) and said, “Stephen A. Smith, I think you had some marriage advice for me, is that right?” When Smith attempted to deflect, Ohanian continued, “You hadn’t been married before, right? Because I give advice to plenty of founders who want to build billion-dollar companies…and the reason I do that is because I build billion-dollar companies…So I generally try to stay in my lane in the advice department.” Smith ultimately conceded that he wasn’t qualified to give marriage counsel. Ohanian’s counter was sharp but measured. It was a public assertion that no one should lecture his wife or their marriage from a pedestal.
Although his response came months after the initial comments, Ohanian deserves major credit here. He stood up for his wife in a public forum and drew clear boundaries about what is (and isn’t) acceptable commentary on their private life. Whether you agree with his approach or question the timing, his move highlights that partners don’t always stay silent when critics cross certain lines. Who do you side with on this one, Ohanian for pushing back? Or Stephen A. for speaking his mind freely? Let us know in the comment section!
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