Serena Williams has done the crip walk a few times publicly. (Source: Getty and Olympics YouTube))
Looking back at Serena Williams’ crip walk controversies
By
Neelabhra Roy
Modified Sep 15, 2024 15:10 GMT
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Serena Williams recently hosted ESPN’s ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) 2024 where she took a dig at rapper Drake and followed it up with a “crip walk.” This isn’t the first time she has done the dance that is associated with California’s West Coast.
The crip walk has been a part of California’s pop culture but has also received criticism for being associated with gang violence.While hosting the ESPY awards, Serena Williams referenced the feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake, taking a dig at the latter.
“And if I’ve learned anything this year, not a single one of us, not even me, should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar. He will make your hometown not like you,” the 42-year old said.
After this, Williams did the crip walk, which is not the first time she has done so. On that note, let’s take a look at a few instances when the tennis legend landed in controversy because of the crip walk.
#3 London Olympics 2012
Serena Williams’ only Olympics singles gold came at the 2012 London Games, where she dropped zero sets and only 17 games in the tournament. The American thrashed her rival Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 in the gold-medal match.After defeating the Russian, Williams did the crip walk in front of the crowd at the All England Club. When asked about her “dance” in her post-match press conference, the American responded that she did not know where the dance came from, and that it was a dance that was done in California’s West Coast.
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“I don’t know. I don’t think I ever danced like that. I don’t even know where the dance came from. It’s just a dance we do in California, I’d say, West Coast,” the-then-30-year-old said.
Serena Williams later said that the dance had a name but was inappropriate.
“Actually, there is a name, but, I don’t know, it’s inappropriate,” she said.
The tennis icon, however, was criticized for her crip walk, with LA Times sports journalist Bill Plaschke saying that her actions showed how far she was from home (Compton) and that the dance was associated with death and violence.
“Isn’t there some kind of dance done by multi-millionaires who live in exclusive South Florida neighborhoods? Serena C-walking at Wimbledon only shows how long she’s been away from home, separated from violence and death associated with that dance,” Plaschke said, as quoted by Washington Post.
#2 Young Thug’s RICO trial
While Serena Williams didn’t do the the crip walk in this instance, her act at the London Olympics was brought up during the trial of rapper Young Thug.Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Lamar Williams, was arrested on gang-related charges in May 2022. He was charged with violating the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizationns) Act.His RICO trial resumed in January 2024 and Serena Williams’ crip walk (called a gang gesture) was talked about. Thug’s attorney Brian Steel asked a witness about the American’s “crip walk at Wimbledon.”
“Have you seen her at Wimbledon doing what’s called the Crip Walk? Do you know what a Crip Walk is, first of all?” Steel said.
The witness responded by saying that he did not watch tennis.
#1 Dissing Drake at ESPYs 2024
Serena Williams with Venus Williams at ESPY awards 2024
Serena Williams with Venus Williams at ESPY awards 2024
The most recent incident of Serena Williams’ crip walk came at the ESPY awards, where she took a dig at Drake. Apart from referencing the rapper’s feud with Kendrick Lamar, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion also said:
“The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re gonna Forrest Gump him, seats taken,” Serena Williams said.
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For context, Drake had previously taken a dig at Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian in his 2022 track “Middle of the Ocean”.
“Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie/ He claim we don’t got a problem but/ No, boo, it is like you comin’ for sushi/ We might pop up on ’em at will like Suzuki,” Drake’s verse read.
Kendrick Lamar responded to this in his track “Not Like Us”, saying:
“From Alondra down to Central, n**ga better not speak on Serena,” Kendrick Lemar said.
Kendrick Lamar and Serena Williams both grew up in Compton, California.
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Edition: English
