Serena Williams has had enough of the nonsense.
During an Instagram Live on Monday (December 2), the 43-year-old tennis legend and 23-time Grand Slam champion addressed claims that she had lightened her skin.
The chatter began last week after Williams posted a video from a school event with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughters, 7-year-old Olympia and 15-month-old Adira.
But while filming a makeup tutorial for her beauty brand, Wyn, the author of My Life: Queen of the Court, saw the perfect opportunity to set the record straight.
“Usually, I go back for a third time and then I put just that neutral color that is actually my skin color. And no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” Williams said as she applied her glam.
You see, “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors,” the former athlete continued.
.@serenawilliams accused and slammed of skin bleaching! Serena Williams used to be dark skinned. What happened? pic.twitter.com/Gj0wPZylpJ
— EM (@EXECUTIVEXMEDIA) November 27, 2024
Williams then spoke on the video fueling the skin-bleaching allegations, explaining that she was volunteering at her daughter Olympia’s school play and was wearing “stage makeup” when she recorded the clip.
“Yes, I am calling you out on this because it is ridiculous,” the tennis star said before stating she is extremely proud of who she is.
“Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin.’ I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look,” she continued.
Williams then said she had no issues with others who might want to lighten their skin but reiterated that she was not interested in the procedure.
“And if people do it, that’s their thing, and they have every opportunity, and they should,” she added. “I don’t judge, but you guys do.”
“That’s what this world is about, and I stay in my lane, the non-judgy one, and I keep it. But, no, actually, I don’t bleach my skin. So, can we just kinda clear that up?”
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But while the internet obsesses over the tennis champ’s skin, Williams is currently tied up in her husband’s recovery.
Ohanian, 41, recently shared that he underwent preventative surgery after “tracking some suspicious nodules” on his thyroid over the last four years.
“The nodules were getting bigger & the latest biopsy revealed they’d very likely turn cancerous,” Ohanian wrote on Instagram.
He later shared that his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 41 and ultimately died from brain cancer “a decade or so later.”
“I hate cancer,” he added. “I wasn’t gonna take any chances.”
Alongside sharing a post-surgery photo of himself, Ohanian also posted two cute snaps of his daughters before writing:
“The worst part tbh has been not being able to lift for 2 weeks but big fella will be back at it next week and I took my girls to Disney World this week so life is wonderful.”
He continued: “To my fellow men — make those doctor’s appointments — especially if y’all are dads. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.”
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