Serena Williams Claims Denial of Entry to Paris Restaurant, Olympics Games 2024

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

Paris, August 5, 2024 – Tennis legend Serena Williams, who is in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, has claimed that she was denied entry to a rooftop restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel, a Michelin-starred establishment, despite the venue appearing empty.

Photo byGilbert Flores / Variety via Getty Images

Williams’ Experience

Serena Williams, accompanied by her husband Alexis Ohanian and their children, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration. In her tweet, she stated:

“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. 🙄#Olympic2024”

Williams’ tweet quickly gained attention, sparking a discussion about the incident and the treatment of high-profile guests.

Photo byAmy Sussman / WireImage

Restaurant's Response

The Peninsula Hotel responded to Williams' tweet, offering an explanation for the situation:

“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”

Photo byErika Goldring / Getty Images for ESSENCE

Staff Commentary

Maxime Mannevy, a staff member at the restaurant, told Variety that the tables in question were indeed reserved by hotel guests. He added:

“When [Serena] came there were only two tables available and they had been reserved by clients of the hotel. My colleague didn’t recognize her and feels terrible, but he told her what he would have told any other client, which is to wait downstairs in the bar for a table to become available. That was absolutely nothing personal.”

Conclusion

The incident highlights the complexities of managing high-profile guests in exclusive establishments, where misunderstandings can occur despite the best intentions. The Peninsula Hotel expressed regret over the situation and reassured Williams that she would be welcomed back in the future.

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Source: buzzfeednews