The tennis star put the Peninsula Hotel restaurant on blast.
You might think Serena Williams can score a restaurant reservation anywhere at anytime, given her 23 grand slams, $300 million net worth, and GOAT status. But apparently that isn’t the case.
The retired tennis star took to the internet to vent her frustrations about being denied access to a rooftop restaurant in Paris, where she is attending the 2024 Olympics.
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024,” she wrote online.
Naturally, fans rallied around Williams and chimed in with their support on social media, writing, “Imagine turning Serena Williams away from an EMPTY restaurant?” and “they should have been honored to have you.”
“You were denied access because they were serving prejudice. Shame on them,” a third person wrote.
Another added, “Who doesn’t make room for a queen?”
So…what is this restaurant that reportedly turned away one of the all-time greatest athletes?
The Peninsula Paris is a five-star luxury hotel, previously known as Hotel Majestic, that has just 93 suites and is located just steps from the city’s most iconic monuments. The hotel is also home to several restaurants: L’Oiseau Blanc, which has earned two Michelin stars; Lili; and Le Lobby; as well as Le Rooftop, a bar located at the top of the hotel offering 360-degree views of the city.
While Serena has yet to elaborate on the incident, The Peninsula Paris told Delish that the rooftop was “indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables at that time belonged” to L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also reserved for the evening.
“We can only reiterate our deepest apologies for her perception of tonight’s situation,” a rep for the luxury hotel said. “She has always been, and will always be, more than welcome with her family at The Peninsula.”
It hasn’t been been all drama for the 42-year-old, though. Williams served as a torch bearer for the games and has been a regular spectator. She sat alongside A-listers Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman for the Team USA women’s gymnastics team final on July 30, and also caught Sunday’s Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz tennis final.
