During her stay in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, Serena Williams faced an unexpected setback when she and her family were denied entry to a rooftop restaurant.
On Monday, August 5, the tennis star voiced her frustration on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, “Yikes @peninsulaparis. I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places 🫠 but never with my kids. Always a first. 🙄#Olympic2024. You’re Really Gonna Reject Me?!?!”
Williams, 42, posted a photo of the hotel’s sign alongside her message. Her post drew significant attention, with fans quickly commenting their disapproval. “How does one get denied when they are Serena Williams…… lol,” noted one fan, while another said, “Their loss, queen. Better doors will open for you automatically ❤️.”
Others accused the hotel of racial discrimination. One fan suggested, “You should claim racism and get someone fired.” While another said, “It doesn’t matter how much money you have. Racism doesn’t care bro 🤣.”
Not everyone supported the four-time Olympic gold medalist, with some suggesting she expected special treatment. “There might be something else going on in Paris…. Maybe not everything is about you? Just a thought,” replied one user. Another seemingly agreed, saying, “Elitist whines because elite restaurant and bar are fully booked. So sad.”
The hotel actually responded with an apology, explaining that the rooftop bar was fully booked despite appearing empty. “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,” their statement read.
Williams, who retired from professional tennis in 2022, is joined in Paris by her husband Alexis Ohanian and their daughters Olympia, 6, and Adira, 1.
