Tennis Icon Denied Access Alongside Her Children
In a surprising turn of events, tennis legend Serena Williams has publicly criticized a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, alleging that she and her children were denied access. The incident occurred at the prestigious rooftop restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, located at The Peninsula Paris.
The incident
Williams shared her experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing her frustration. “Yikes @peninsulaparis,” she wrote. “I’ve been denied access to a rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places [sic] but never with my kids. Always a first.”
The post quickly garnered support from Williams’ fans and followers. One user highlighted her financial prowess, stating, “You can buy the whole damn place.” Another follower expressed disbelief, writing, “Who doesn’t make room for a queen?” A third comment suggested the denial was rooted in discrimination: “You were denied access because they were serving prejudice. Shame on them.”
Hotel’s response
In response to the outcry, The Peninsula’s official X account issued an apology, explaining that the rooftop bar was fully booked at the time. “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,” the statement read.
Williams arrived in Paris in late July for the “unforgettable” Olympic opening ceremony, participating as a torchbearer. She joined other renowned athletes, including Rafael Nadal and Carl Lewis, in the time-honored tradition of carrying the Olympic torch. The ceremony marked a poignant moment for Williams, who retired from professional tennis after the 2022 US Open.
A stellar career
Throughout her illustrious career, Serena Williams has secured 23 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals. Her Olympic victories include a gold in women’s singles at the 2012 London Games and three in women’s doubles, achieved alongside her sister, Venus Williams, in Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, and London 2012.
Continuing legacy
Although retired, Williams remains a prominent figure in the tennis world. She was recently spotted at several tennis matches, including Novak Djokovic’s thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles tournament at the Olympics, where Djokovic clinched his first Olympic gold medal. The women’s singles title was won by China’s Zheng Qinwen, who triumphed over Croatia’s Donna Vekic.