During a recent trip to Sweden, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband to tennis icon Serena Williams, shared a personal and emotional moment online that quickly became the subject of public scrutiny.
In a short video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Ohanian showcased a piece of Nordic licorice, explaining that its salty flavor reminded him of his late mother, Anke Ohanian. What started as a heartfelt tribute was met with both support and backlash.
Some users mocked or criticized Ohanian’s comparison, suggesting it was trivial or melodramatic. But for Ohanian, the connection was deeply meaningful. Licorice was a flavor his German-born mother loved, and the candy served as a powerful trigger for memory.
In response to the criticism, he posted a strongly worded message defending his tribute, emphasizing that memory and mourning are intensely personal. “Y’all would’ve burned my mom at the stake as a witch,” he wrote, pushing back against those who mocked his sentimentality.
Preserving a legacy through small moments
Anke Ohanian, who passed away in 2008 from glioblastoma, played a major role in shaping Alexis’s values and sense of identity. A German immigrant, she raised Alexis with strong cultural roots, often speaking German at home and teaching him resilience and compassion.
Her influence remains a guiding force in his life, especially now as a father of two young daughters.
The video featured Ohanian sampling the candy and writing, “This Nordic licorice reminds me of my mom… it’s not for the weak.” While simple on the surface, it was a quiet but poignant way to honor her memory.
He ended the message with “Tack Sweden!”-a Swedish thank-you-highlighting the emotional connection made across continents.
Rather than back down in the face of negativity, Ohanian used the moment to reflect on how public grieving is often policed unfairly. He noted that the anniversary of his mother’s passing remains the hardest day of the year for him, and sharing this moment helped him keep her memory alive in a meaningful way.
Now raising daughters with Serena Williams, Ohanian frequently notes how his parenting echoes his mother’s. He’s caught himself looking at his children the same way Anke once looked at him. It’s these small, everyday actions-candy, pancakes, family routines-that help him carry forward her legacy.
By embracing vulnerability online, Ohanian reminded the world that honoring a loved one doesn’t always come in grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s a simple taste or a quiet memory that speaks the loudest-and those tributes deserve respect, not ridicule.
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