Serena Williams Says She By no means Thought “Unfavorable” About Drake

Serena Williams is pushing again on the narrative that her look on the 2025 Tremendous Bowl with Kendrick Lamar had something to do with Drake.

On Wednesday (April 16), Williams’ expansive characteristic interview aside of the TIME100 situation was launched and captured the retired tennis champion reflecting on her eventful yr in 2024. Along with remarking on investing tens of millions of {dollars} in a number of firms by means of her group Serena Ventures, Williams additionally spoke about subjects comparable to rising tennis stars comparable to Coco Gauff, her new position in turn out to be an proprietor of a WNBA staff and naturally, her expertise showing in Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl Halftime present efficiency on the high of 2025.

In her preliminary remarks explaining how she turned part of Lamar’s efficiency within the first place, she revealed that the Compton MC reached out to her just some weeks earlier than the large sport to gauge her curiosity in being part of his efficiency.

“We’ve been attempting to do one thing collectively for ages,” Williams stated.

Based on the characteristic Lamar reportedly watched Williams crip stroll after he win on the 2012 London Olympics and was excited about having her incorporate the dance into his efficiency as a nod respecting their shared West Coast heritage. Nevertheless, Williams says she was skeptical, at first, when contemplating the concept.

“I’m like, ‘Wait, what, you’re asking me?’” she stated. “I’m not Taylor Swift, let’s be sincere. I’d have a greater likelihood to be quarterback on the Tremendous Bowl than dance.”

Williams went on to disclose that she and her staff did have conversations in regards to the doable unfavorable suggestions that might comply with her look, primarily because of the scrutiny she confronted over a decade beforehand when she did the dance on a world-wide stage. Ultimately, although, Williams determined it was too good of a chance to move up.

“Who would have thought {that a} tennis participant from Compton can be considered among the best tennis gamers of all time?” she stated. “It was simply placing an exclamation on it.”

Williams additionally stated, “I don’t know if I remorse it or not,” when requested of her choice to bop. “I don’t know the reply to that.”

Nevertheless, she was discernibly assured in answering to the hypothesis about whether or not or not she had ulterior motives in showing alongside aspect Lamar on the Tremendous Bowl resulting from her previous fling with Drake.

“Completely not, I’d by no means try this,” she stated. “And that was unhappy, that anybody would ever assume that.”

Williams continued, making it clear that she harbors no unwell will or resentment towards Drake in any capability.

“I respect how they might,” she stated. “Clearly I can see how somebody would assume that. However completely not. I’ve by no means had unfavorable emotions in direction of him. We’ve identified him for thus a few years.”

Nevertheless, Williams’ latest monologue on the ESPY’s Awards in 2024 starkly contrasts the feelings she expressed within the interview.

“If I’ve realized something this yr, it’s that none of us, not a single one in every of us, not even me, ought to ever decide a struggle with Kendrick Lamar,” she stated through the monologue earlier than making a direct swipe at Drake. “He’ll make your hometown not such as you. The following time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors sport, they’re going to Forrest Gump him. Seats taken.”

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