Serena Williams sparks backlash after expressing discomfort over decorative cotton plant
NewsSunday, 28 September 2025 at 23:00
Serena Williams has been accused by many of being a hypocrite and entitled after expressing disdain for a hotel's cotton plant in a social media post.
Since retiring at the 2022 US Open, Williams has stayed busy with various projects. Recently, she started a podcast with her sister and fellow tennis legend, Venus Williams, to discuss their journeys as players and other topics.
Serena also recently spoke about her weight loss journey and the trick that worked best for her. She found it challenging to lose weight after having kids, and many mothers can relate to that experience.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion's social media posts are usually met with overwhelming positivity from her fans worldwide, but the American's video about a plant in the hotel she stayed at attracted wider anger.
Williams asked those viewing the video what they thought of cotton, one of the biggest industries used during slavery in the United States, being used as the material for a decorative plant in the hotel.
"Okay guys, how do we feel about cotton as decoration? Personally, for me, it doesn't feel great."
The former WTA world No. 1 did a follow-up part to the video, saying that the cotton felt like nail polish. After touching it with her fingers, she acted disgusted again, but still held it when she walked out of the shot.
Defenders of Williams argue that the history of slavery is a sensitive topic for black Americans, and people are triggered in different ways. They think Williams expressing herself as she did is valid and should not be criticized.
Others felt that Williams's claim to be uncomfortable with the cotton when the 13th amendment outlawed slavery almost 160 years ago is ridiculous, and she just wanted to generate attention with her actions.
Many critics of Williams pointed out that the 44-year-old's home has a sculpture by Radcliffe Bailey that contains cotton and references its history in the slave trade. The sculpture is named the Monument for a Promise.
Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, defended her from this criticism. He said the sculpture, which shows a donkey carrying a trunk over a mound of cotton, contained symbolism that made it different from the plant at the hotel.
"Folks are entitled to have their opinions, but to use owning Radcliffe Bailey’s Monument for a Promise as some kind of a 'gotchya' is so breathtakingly stupid—there is some very obvious symbolism of the cotton in the artwork."
Ohanian is correct that the sculpture has a message that is not evident from the cotton plant. This point should be acknowledged before those with an opposing view condemn Williams.
It can also be argued that, if Williams feels strongly about the use of cotton, she should abstain from buying or using any products that contain the material. The tennis legend has almost certainly used other products containing cotton.
Williams' video and the strong reaction to it are a reminder of how swiftly things can spread on social media, especially when someone is being lambasted.
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