ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith recently found himself embroiled in controversy

after making derogatory comments about tennis legend Serena Williams and her husband,Alexis Ohanian.
The comments, which many perceived as an attempt to troll Williams, centered on her appearance during
the Super Bowl halftime show where she performed a “crip walk” while Kendrick Lamar performed his famous diss track Not Like Us.

The rapper’s performance sparked Smith’s critical remarks, which quickly drew backlash online.

On his show First Take, Smith, 57, made unsolicited remarks about Ohanian,

calling him a “wimp” for allegedly allowing his wife to take part in the controversial moment. He criticized Williams for “trolling” her ex-boyfriend,
rapper Drake, in the midst of Lamar’s performance. Williams had a brief, on-again, off-again relationship with Drake from 2011 to 2015 before marrying Ohanian in 2017. Smith, who has never been shy about expressing his opinions, shared his thoughts on what he believed would be an inappropriate act in any marriage. He said, “If I’m your husband, I’m thinking, ‘Why are you up there trolling him – trolling your ex? If I’m married, and my wife is going to troll her ex – go back to his a–. Because clearly, you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for – and you with me? Bye-bye.'”
His comments were met with outrage, especially considering his unsolicited advice about their marriage. Many saw his words as crossing a line, with one critic pointing out that Smith, who has made a career out of speaking his mind, was now casting judgment on a relationship. The remarks also seemed to miss the mark, considering that Williams has long been a public figure who has proven her strength both on and off the court.
After facing criticism for his remarks, Smith backpedaled, claiming that he was “just joking around.” However, insiders close to Williams suggested that the comments deeply angered the tennis icon. One source revealed, “Serena sees Stephen A. as a self-absorbed, chauvinistic loudmouth who was just trying to get a reaction. He’s already boasted about possibly running for president and is constantly trying to stay in the headlines outside of sports.”
Smith, who is known for his outspoken nature, has built a career on delivering opinions, often on sensitive topics like sports, relationships, and pop culture. However, according to the source, Williams and Ohanian were not taking Smith’s remarks lightly. “Stephen A. talks smack about athletes for a living, but actually casting aspersions on someone’s marriage definitely crossed a line,” the insider added. “Serena and Alexis are glad people saw through his BS and slammed him for the nonsense he spewed.”

The public backlash was swift. Smith’s remarks were met with widespread condemnation on social media, with many accusing him of crossing a personal line in his critique of Williams’ marriage. Despite the backlash, Smith’s remarks seemed to fuel the ongoing public conversation about his desire to be seen as a larger-than-life personality.
Williams and Ohanian, who have been together since 2015 and married in 2017, have been an inseparable couple in the public eye. They share a daughter, Olympia, and Williams has often spoken about the importance of her family life alongside her tennis career. As one of the most decorated athletes in history, Williams has repeatedly proven her resilience and her ability to rise above criticism—whether it be on the court or in her personal life.
The couple has often shown that their bond is strong, with Ohanian regularly supporting his wife both at her matches and in her business ventures. The duo’s strength and unity in the face of public scrutiny have made them an admired couple, making Smith’s comments even more perplexing to many. “People saw through his BS,” a source close to the couple said, referring to the negative reaction that Smith’s comments received.
While Smith’s comments may have been intended as lighthearted banter, they seemed to have struck a nerve with Williams, who, like many others, values respect for her family. Whether Smith’s remarks were truly a joke or a deliberate attempt to stir controversy, they certainly added fuel to the ongoing debates about boundaries and respect in the public sphere.

As the feud continues to simmer, one thing is clear: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian are undeterred by the harsh words of a TV personality, continuing to move forward with their lives and family, despite Stephen A. Smith’s remarks.
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