Serena Williams made waves during the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show when she joined Kendrick Lamar on stage for a memorable performance of “Not Like Us,” leaving many viewers with mixed reactions.
The tennis legend’s appearance not only caught attention because of her dance moves but also due to the connection between the song and her past relationship with rapper Drake.
Stephen A. Smith’s Super Bowl hot take
While Williams’ cameo raised eyebrows, it was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith who drew significant attention with his candid remarks on the matter.
On Monday’s First Take, Smith weighed in on the moment, remarking, “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass, ’cause clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”
His comments were quickly met with resistance from his co-hosts, who attempted to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Despite Smith’s strong stance, co-host Ryan Clark responded humorously, saying, “If you were with Serena Williams, you’re going to be a kept man anyways.”
Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe also came to the defense of Alexis Ohanian, Williams’ husband, stating that Ohanian had made his own fortune, thanks to his founding of Reddit and subsequent sale of the company.
The tension around Williams’ performance during Lamar’s diss track was partly rooted in her history with Drake.
The rapper’s song “Too Good” included a line many interpreted as a reference to Williams, whom he briefly dated in 2011.
The decision to perform a song that includes jabs at her past relationship sparked debate over whether the moment was a harmless nod to her history or a sign of unresolved feelings.
While Smith’s initial reaction suggested he disapproved of Williams’ actions, it seemed that his perspective softened after the discussion.
Alexis Ohanian later took to X, posting a supportive message for Kendrick Lamar, congratulating him on the halftime performance.
The drama surrounding the performance continued as viewers debated whether Serena’s participation was simply playful or if it reflected lingering tensions with her ex.
Williams, however, remained enthusiastic about the experience, sharing on social media, “Let’s go Super Bowl halftime,” expressing her excitement about being part of the historic performance alongside Kendrick Lamar.
Whether it was a moment of pure fun or calculated trolling, it certainly sparked conversation.
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