Stephen A. Smith Fires Shots at Serena Williams’s Husband: Is the Super Bowl Incident Leading to a Divorce

Stephen A. Smith Fires Shots at Serena Williams’s Husband: Is the Super Bowl Incident Leading to a Divorce

Stephen A. Smith Unleashes Scathing Critique on Serena Williams’s Husband After Super Bowl Halftime Show

In an event that has captured the attention of sports fans and entertainment enthusiasts alike, Serena Williams made a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. However, it was not her dance moves that sparked controversy but rather the reaction from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who had some harsh words for Williams’s husband, Alexis Ohanian.

During the halftime performance at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Williams joined Lamar on stage to dance to his Grammy-winning Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” Given Williams’s past rumored relationship with Drake, the cameo was seen by many as a playful jab, but Smith took a different view.

On his Monday edition of “First Take,” Smith didn’t mince words when discussing the implications of Williams’s appearance. “If I’m married and my wife is going to join in trolling her ex like that, 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,” Smith declared, echoing sentiments he later shared on social media platforms.

This statement, dripping with sarcasm and frustration, went viral, igniting debates across various social media channels. Some fans and commentators praised Smith for speaking his mind, while others criticized him for what they perceived as an overreaction and a lack of understanding of the playful nature of the halftime show.

The performance itself was a spectacle, with Lamar delivering an electrifying set that included several of his hits. Williams, dressed in a bright blue tennis-like outfit, showcased not only her dance moves but also her connection to her Compton roots, mirroring Lamar’s own origin story. However, the spotlight quickly shifted from the performance to Smith’s commentary.

Smith’s remarks also brought attention to the dynamics of celebrity relationships under the public eye. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, have been married since 2017 and share two daughters. The narrative around their relationship has often been one of support and mutual respect, making Smith’s critique all the more surprising to some.

While Ohanian hasn’t publicly responded to Smith’s comments, posts on social media from fans and observers have ranged from humorous memes to serious discussions about respect, privacy, and the role of celebrity in personal relationships. Some have argued that Williams was simply participating in the fun of the Super Bowl, an event known for its unexpected moments and celebrity cameos.

Critiques of Smith’s comments have been varied. Some felt his reaction was an overstep, suggesting that Williams, a grown woman and a celebrated athlete, was capable of making her own choices about her public appearances. Others saw it as a humorous exaggeration, fitting with Smith’s known style of hyperbolic commentary.

This incident has added another layer to the ongoing conversation about how celebrities navigate their public and private lives, especially in moments of high visibility like the Super Bowl halftime show. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Stephen A. Smith’s remarks have ensured that Serena Williams’s cameo will be remembered not just for the dance moves but for the discourse it sparked about love, loyalty, and the spotlight.