??Alexis Ohanian didn’t hold back when he finally got the chance to confront Stephen A. Smith.
The Reddit cofounder and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams appeared on ESPN’s First Take this week and called out the outspoken commentator for his earlier remarks about Williams‘ Super Bowl appearance, remarks that many fans and media figures deemed deeply disrespectful.
Earlier this year, Williams made headlines with a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl halftime show performance of “Not Like Us,” a song famously targeting rapper Drake, the same Drake with whom Williams was rumored to have briefly dated years ago.
The moment was widely seen as a lighthearted, triumphant nod from one global icon to another. But Smith didn’t see it that way.
On First Take the following day, Smith questioned the move entirely, saying, “If I’m your husband, I’m thinking, ‘Why are you up there trolling him? Trolling your ex?’ If my wife is going to troll her ex, go back to his ***. Because clearly you don’t belong with me.”
The comments ignited immediate backlash online, with fans accusing Smith of disrespecting Williams and Ohanian‘s marriage.
Smith later tried to clarify his remarks on social media, claiming he “meant no offense,” but the damage was already done. Months later, Ohanian seized the opportunity to respond directly on Smith’s own show.
Alexis Ohanian turns the tables on live TV
Appearing as a guest on First Take, Ohanian noticed that Smith was appearing virtually rather than in the studio. That didn’t stop him from addressing the controversy head-on.
“Stephen A. Smith, I think you had some marriage advice for me. Is that right?” Ohanian said pointedly.
Caught off guard, Smith laughed and replied that he wasn’t qualified to give marriage advice. But Ohanian pressed further.
“You hadn’t been married before, right?” he asked, before landing a sharp closing remark: “I give advice to plenty of founders who want to build billion-dollar companies and the reason I do that is because I build billion-dollar companies. So I generally try to stay in my lane.”
The moment instantly went viral. Fans flooded social media praising Ohanian for standing up for his wife with calm precision rather than outrage.
“That’s how you defend your queen,” one user posted on X. Another wrote, “Ohanian just checked Stephen A. without even raising his voice. Masterclass.”
Williams herself has not commented publicly on the exchange, but the couple’s unified image speaks volumes.
Since retiring from professional tennis in 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has shifted her focus toward business and family, recently launching her Serena Williams x Janie and Jack clothing collection inspired by her daughters, Olympia and Adira.
Ohanian, meanwhile, continues to invest heavily in women’s sports through his venture firm, Seven Seven Six, and as part-owner of Angel City FC.
His public support for Williams, both personally and professionally, has become one of the defining features of their relationship.
Smith has not directly responded to Ohanian‘s on-air comments, though fans speculate he likely wasn’t expecting the tech mogul to bring it up live.
But after Ohanian‘s composed takedown, one thing seems clear: when it comes to defending Serena Williams‘ name, her husband has no problem stepping into the arena and winning without throwing a single punch.
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