Home Ziharkah9

The Ultimate Clapback: Why Serena Williams’ Crip Walk At The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Shocked The World (Again)

• minute read
Contents

The internet exploded in February 2025 following the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, not just because of Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying set, but due to a surprise, highly controversial cameo by tennis icon Serena Williams. Her appearance, which featured a brief but unmistakable performance of the Crip Walk dance, immediately reignited a decade-old debate about cultural expression, appropriation, and the boundaries of celebration for a global superstar. This act was more than just a dance; it was a defiant, calculated statement delivered on the world’s biggest stage, directly addressing past controversies and a simmering hip-hop feud.

The move, performed while Lamar delivered his viral Drake diss track, "Not Like Us," was quickly interpreted by millions as a direct and undeniable endorsement of the Compton rapper and a powerful clap-back at the Canadian artist. This latest incident is the second time Serena Williams has brought the dance—often associated with Black culture and Los Angeles street history—into the mainstream spotlight, forcing a new generation to re-examine the complex history and meaning behind the infamous "C-walk."

Serena Williams: A Brief Biography and Career Timeline

Serena Jameka Williams is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, transforming the sport of tennis alongside her sister, Venus Williams. Born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, she was raised primarily in Compton, California, where she began her tennis journey on public courts under the tutelage of her father, Richard Williams, and mother, Oracene Price.

  • Full Name: Serena Jameka Williams
  • Born: September 26, 1981, Saginaw, Michigan
  • Parents: Richard Williams and Oracene Price
  • Sister: Venus Williams (also a legendary tennis player)
  • Professional Debut: 1995
  • First Major Championship: 1999 (US Open)
  • Career Grand Slam: Completed in 2003
  • Major Titles: 23 Grand Slam singles titles (Open Era record)
  • Olympic Medals: 4 Gold Medals (3 in doubles with Venus, 1 in singles)
  • Retirement: Announced in 2022, though she remains an influential global figure.
  • Husband: Alexis Ohanian (Co-founder of Reddit)
  • Residence: Florida

Williams’ career is defined by her unprecedented power, athleticism, and mental fortitude. Her influence extends far beyond the court, making her a formidable figure in fashion, business, and cultural commentary, which is why her actions during a hip-hop performance carry such significant weight.

The Original Uproar: The 2012 Olympic Crip Walk

The first time the world witnessed Serena Williams performing the controversial dance was in 2012, following her dominant victory over Maria Sharapova to claim the Olympic gold medal at the London Games.

After securing the win, Williams celebrated with a series of jubilant moves, which included a dance that was quickly identified by viewers and cultural commentators as the Crip Walk, or "C-walk." The dance originated in the 1970s among members of the Crip gang in South Central Los Angeles, a region Williams has strong ties to, having grown up in Compton.

Context and Initial Backlash

The reaction in 2012 was immediate and highly polarized. Critics, particularly those in the media and conservative circles, deemed the move inappropriate for the prestigious All England Club, the same venue that hosts Wimbledon. They argued that a dance with gang origins was unsuitable for an Olympic celebration, especially given the tragic history of gang violence in Los Angeles, which had personally affected Williams’ family.

However, many others, particularly within the Black community and hip-hop culture, viewed the criticism as an overreaction and a form of cultural policing. They defended Williams, arguing that the dance had evolved beyond its origins to become a mainstream expression of Black culture, particularly in celebration. Williams herself defended the move, describing it simply as a "winning dance" she had performed before.

The incident highlighted the deep cultural divide in how expressions of Black joy and celebration are perceived in traditionally white, elite spaces like professional tennis.

The Super Bowl LIX Clapback: Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and "Not Like Us"

Fast forward over a decade, and the "C-walk" controversy was dramatically resurrected during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in February 2025. The context this time was far more layered, involving one of the biggest hip-hop rivalries in recent memory.

The Kendrick Lamar Connection

Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s segment of the halftime show. Lamar, a Compton native like Williams, was performing his chart-topping track, "Not Like Us," a scathing diss track aimed squarely at fellow rapper Drake. The song, which features heavy West Coast hip-hop influences, had dominated the charts and became an anthem of solidarity against Drake.

Williams, dressed in a blue pleated skirt reminiscent of her tennis attire, performed her signature Crip Walk moves while Lamar rapped. The symbolism was potent: two Compton icons standing together, using a dance rooted in their shared Los Angeles history to back a song that was dismantling one of the biggest names in music.

The Drake Subtext: A History of Tension

The Super Bowl dance was widely interpreted as a direct message to Drake. The relationship between Williams and Drake has been a subject of speculation for years, with rumors of a romantic involvement and subsequent tension. Drake had also mentioned Williams in his music, notably in his 2013 single "Worst Behavior."

By performing the Crip Walk—a move of cultural significance—during a song that directly attacked Drake, Williams was seen as not only supporting Lamar but also publicly taking a side in the beef. Many commentators suggested it was Williams' long-awaited, non-verbal response to Drake's past behavior and perceived disrespect.

Alexis Ohanian’s Decisive Defense

The inevitable backlash to the 2025 performance was swift, mirroring the 2012 criticism. However, Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, wasted no time in defending his wife on social media. Ohanian praised her performance, effectively shutting down critics who attempted to link the dance back to its gang origins as a means of condemnation. His public support underscored the family’s unified stance against what they view as unwarranted cultural scrutiny.

The Evolution of the Crip Walk and Cultural Ownership

The recurring controversy surrounding Serena Williams and the Crip Walk speaks to a larger, ongoing debate about cultural ownership and the mainstreaming of historically marginalized expressions.

While the dance’s roots are undeniable—created by Crip gang members in the 1970s—its presence in popular culture has evolved. Today, it is frequently seen in hip-hop videos, movies, and celebrations by artists and athletes who hail from or are connected to the West Coast. For many, including Williams, the Crip Walk is a powerful, kinetic symbol of Compton pride and Black cultural resilience, divorced from its original violent context.

Williams' decision to perform the dance twice on the world’s biggest stages—first at the Olympics and later at the Super Bowl—asserts her right as a Compton native and a Black woman to express herself authentically. In 2025, the move was less a celebration of a tennis win and more a powerful, political, and personal statement. It solidified her role not just as a sports legend, but as an unapologetic cultural force who is unafraid to use her platform to enter the fray of hip-hop and cultural discourse.

serena williams crip walk
serena williams crip walk

Detail Author:

  • Name : Trevion Kuhn
  • Username : mauricio.kozey
  • Email : ned.ortiz@considine.com
  • Birthdate : 1980-05-23
  • Address : 47512 Hammes Path Suite 640 Christaberg, CT 52240-4332
  • Phone : (802) 992-0532
  • Company : Bode-Hill
  • Job : Automotive Glass Installers
  • Bio : Qui et nihil earum ut. Illo cupiditate eum maxime molestiae. Esse veritatis nam ut voluptatem. Voluptatem sit aspernatur sequi deleniti aut.

Socials

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/loyeffertz
  • username : loyeffertz
  • bio : Aspernatur labore veniam aut eum sunt. Cumque voluptatem aut sint.
  • followers : 1401
  • following : 2980

facebook:

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/loy_dev
  • username : loy_dev
  • bio : Aliquam voluptas voluptas aspernatur optio et. Id commodi et beatae aut provident ab laboriosam dicta. Et animi dolor corrupti ex autem culpa.
  • followers : 3727
  • following : 957

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@effertzl
  • username : effertzl
  • bio : Dolorem dolorem quis omnis consequuntur ducimus.
  • followers : 1799
  • following : 704

Random Posts