Respond: Serena Williams Denied Access at Paris Rooftop Restaurant, 'Unrecognized and Unapologetic'

Serena Williams and The Peninsula hotel.Photo byMARC PIASECKI/WIREIMAGE; PIERRICK ROCHER/BFA.COM/SHUTTERSTOCK

Disclaimer: This article was written with the help of A.I. software.

Incident Overview

In an unexpected turn of events, Serena Williams, the renowned tennis champion, was denied access to a rooftop restaurant at a luxury hotel in Paris. The incident took place at The Peninsula Paris on July 31, 2024, during her stay in the city following the Olympic opening ceremony.

Serena Williams' Reaction

Serena Williams took to her X account (formerly known as Twitter) to express her disappointment with the establishment. She tweeted:

"Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places … but never with my kids. Always a first."

Her tweet quickly gained traction, with many of her fans expressing outrage and disappointment at the treatment she received.

Restaurant's Response

The Paris restaurant responded to the situation by releasing a statement to Variety. The restaurant's representative clarified that the incident was “nothing personal” and attributed it to a misunderstanding.

"My colleague didn’t recognize her and feels terrible,” the representative stated.

They further expressed their regret and assured that the situation was a one-off incident.

Background and Context

Serena Williams was in Paris not only for leisure but also to participate as a torchbearer in the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony. Williams, who retired from professional tennis after the 2022 U.S. Open, joined other legendary athletes, including Carl Lewis and Zinedine Zidane, in the prestigious event. During her stay, she was seen attending various tennis matches, including Novak Djokovic’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

Conclusion

This incident highlights the challenges even world-famous athletes can face in public spaces. While the restaurant has apologized and clarified the misunderstanding, the event serves as a reminder of the importance of customer service and recognition, regardless of status.

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Source: hollywoodunlocked