Serena Williams sparks debate after Parisian hotel denies her family entry during Olympics

Tennis legend Serena Williams has sparked debate after she and her family were denied access to the rooftop restaurant of a prestigious Parisian hotel during the Paris Olympics.

The 42-year-old athlete took to social media to voice her frustration, sharing her experience with her followers.

“Yikes @peninsulaparis,” she tweeted on Monday. “I’ve been denied access to a rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant at nicer places, but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024. You’re Really Gonna Reject Me?!?!”

Serena included a photo of The Peninsula’s sign with her message, sparking a wave of reactions from her fans.

Many accused the hotel of racism, with comments like: “You should claim racism and get someone fired,” and: “It doesn’t matter how much money you have. Racism doesn't care bro.”

However, not everyone sided with Serena. Some accused her of acting like an entitled “celebrity,” with one user commenting: “BREAKING NEWS: Celebrity told 'no,'" and another writing: “I’m a celebrity, kick a regular person out so I can eat.”

© Jean Catuffe

The Peninsula Hotel responded to the controversy with a statement, clarifying the situation. “Dear Mrs. Williams,” they wrote.

“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.”

© Karwai Tang

Serena, who is in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, was accompanied by her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughters, Olympia, six, and Adira, one.

The family has been enjoying their time in the City of Light, with Serena participating in the opening ceremony’s torch relay alongside other celebrated sports stars, including Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comaneci.

© Getty

Over the weekend, Serena stole the spotlight from the stands as she attended the men’s tennis final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.

Displaying her effortless style, the tennis icon sported a pair of black Nike leggings, a fitted black bodysuit, and an oversized black and navy bomber jacket.

Her honey-blonde mermaid hair, worn in rippling curls that cascaded past her shoulders, added a touch of glamour to her ensemble.

Serena completed her look with Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses and a chic mini handbag in black leather.