Serena Williams Reveals Real Reason Behind Super Bowl Halftime Performance with Kendrick Lamar

Serena Williams Reveals How Her Viral Super Bowl Cameo Came Together

Tennis legend Serena Williams, 43, recently explained the story behind her surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s explosive 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. The 23-time Grand Slam champion made headlines for dancing to Lamar’s Not Like Us—a track targeting her ex-boyfriend Drake—during the spectacle.

Williams revealed Lamar’s team reached out after recalling her iconic 2012 Olympic victory celebration, where she performed the “crip walk” following a gold medal win against Maria Sharapova. “They loved my crip walk at the Olympics,” Williams shared on Instagram, alongside behind-the-scenes footage. Thrilled by the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity, she joked, “When in the world would I ever dance at a Super Bowl? Let’s do it!”

[IMAGE: Serena practicing her dance in a trailer, caption: “Williams rehearsed her moves before taking the Super Bowl stage.”]

The clip showed Williams rehearsing backstage, joking about pre-show nerves (“This is a bad time to have to pee!”), and celebrating with her team after her 10-second cameo. Dressed in a bold blue ensemble, she grooved on a platform as cameras captured the moment. “That was the best 10 seconds of my life!” she exclaimed post-performance.

[IMAGE: Serena dancing during the halftime show, caption: “Williams’ cameo during Lamar’s Not Like Us performance.”]

The dance nod to Compton roots—both Williams and Lamar hail from the California city—sparked buzz, especially given its cultural ties. The crip walk, originating from local gang culture, had previously drawn controversy when Williams first debuted it at Wimbledon in 2012. “I didn’t crip walk like that at Wimbledon—I would’ve been fined!” she laughed in a follow-up video.

[IMAGE: Serena’s 2012 Olympics celebration, caption: “Her 2012 crip walk inspired Lamar’s Super Bowl vision.”]

Fans speculated about Drake’s reaction, as the diss track feud between the rapper and Lamar intensified. Williams, however, kept the focus on the fun of the moment, sharing glimpses of her family—husband Alexis Ohanian and their daughters—cheering from the stands. Ohanian later praised the show on X, calling it “fantastic.”

[IMAGE: Williams with family at the Super Bowl, caption: “Serena watched the game with husband Alexis Ohanian and their children.”]

The cameo also resurfaced stories of Williams’ past romance with Drake, whom she dated on-and-off from 2011 to 2015. By 2017, she’d married Ohanian, with whom she shares two daughters. Despite the Drake drama, Williams’ Super Bowl moment celebrated her legacy, hometown pride, and irresistible star power—proving even retirement can’t dim her spotlight.

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