Serena Williams recently shared two short clips on Instagram Stories featuring a cotton plant decoration in the hallway of a New York City hotel. In one of the videos, the tennis champion admitted the display made her uncomfortable.
“How do we feel about cotton as decoration?” Williams asked, before adding, “Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great.” In another clip, she picked up one of the cotton balls, rubbed it against her nail, and visibly shuddered.
Though her reaction has gone viral, sparking debate online, it remains unclear whether Williams was commenting on the texture of the cotton itself or on the plant’s historic ties to slavery in the United States.
Reactions on social media were mixed. Some users dismissed her discomfort as an overreaction. One wrote, “Get over it, it’s a decoration.” Another added, “OMG, cut out this c**p! I’ve seen plenty of cotton decorations, and they have absolutely no connection to slavery or racism!”
Others criticized her further, with one comment reading, “OMG Serena Williams, get a grip. It was a damn display and a pretty one. I also guess some of your clothes are cotton OMG!” Another remarked, “Multi-millionaire offended by potted plant.”
Williams, 43, was in New York City for the Nike x SKIMS collaboration, according to TMZ. The exact hotel where she spotted the decoration has not been disclosed.
The discussion comes at a time when Williams is already facing backlash over her recent partnership with GLP-1 medicine company Ro. In a promotional video for the brand, she appeared to inject herself with weight-loss medication, drawing criticism from some fans.
One user reacted to the campaign by posting, “What Serena is really saying here: it doesn’t matter how successful, powerful, or strong you are — if you’re not thin, it doesn’t matter. That’s so sad.”
