Serena Williams’ recent social media post has stirred concern among her followers, sparking speculation about the state of her marriage to Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit. On October 21, 2024, the 43-year-old tennis legend posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) to her 10.3 million followers, which left some fans wondering if there was trouble brewing in her marriage ahead of their eighth wedding anniversary.
The post read, “I don’t know who needs to hear this (maybe no one), but if someone, even someone close to you, is robbing you of your joy, it’s okay to walk away.” Many fans quickly assumed this cryptic message was directed at her husband, Alexis Ohanian, prompting widespread speculation about the state of their relationship.
The post received a mixed response. Some users took it as a sign of marital issues, with one fan responding, “If that someone close to you is your spouse, you try to work it out rather than walk away because there’s no such thing as a perfect marriage.” Another user had a completely different perspective, replying, “If your own spouse is robbing you of your joy then wtf is there to work out? That’s not an imperfect marriage, that’s hell.” The post seemed to strike a chord with many, with a third follower even asking the 23-time Grand Slam champion directly, “You are not in that situation, are you? We cannot deal with bad news at the moment.”
However, not everyone was convinced that Williams’ post was about her marriage. Some fans defended the idea of maintaining one’s happiness, even if it meant walking away. One user asked, “Why has walking away been normalized? Try working things out first, or you never cared.” Another added, “No one is entitled to make you miserable when they have access to you by your choice. Simply remove that access. Life is too short.”
Amid the conversation, others drew comparisons to celebrities who have faced similar struggles, referencing Jennifer Lopez, who has gone through four divorces. “I learned from Jennifer Lopez…she might be sad and sick, but she moves the hell on,” said one commenter, hinting at the idea of letting go when necessary.
Williams has not confirmed whether her post about “robbing you of your joy” was in any way related to Ohanian. Still, the timing of the post has led some fans to recall earlier rumors about tension in their marriage. In July 2024, speculation began circulating online when fans noticed that Williams had not been posting as frequently about her husband on Instagram. However, shortly after the rumors emerged, she shared a family photo featuring herself, Ohanian, and their daughter, Alexis Olympia, effectively silencing the gossip.
The couple, who will soon celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary, have faced public scrutiny throughout their marriage, often dealing with rumors and online criticisms. They first met in May 2015 while staying at the same hotel in Rome, and after dating for two years, they married in November 2017. The couple shares two daughters—Alexis Olympia, born in September 2017, and Adira River, who was born in August 2023.
Despite the rumors, Serena and Alexis have continued to present a united front. In July 2024, they attended the Paris Summer Olympics, where a humorous moment occurred when a correspondent mistakenly referred to Ohanian as Williams’ “umbrella holder.” Ohanian responded with a lighthearted comment on X, saying, “I’m also Olympia’s personal umbrella holder. Sidebar: Y’all set the bar too low for me. Celeb dads get flowers just for acknowledging they have kids.”
Ohanian has also been quick to shut down critics online. In August 2024, a troll on X accused him of using his wife’s fortune after he offered to pay $60,000 to any Athlos-connected track competitor who won a gold medal at the Paris Games. The critic suggested that Ohanian was using Serena’s money, to which he replied, “You created an entire Twitter account just to say something that stupid?”
Both Serena and Alexis have amassed substantial fortunes through their entrepreneurial ventures. Williams, who founded the beauty brand WYN Beauty, has an estimated net worth of $340 million, while Ohanian’s is reportedly around $150 million.
While the rumors of a possible split continue to circulate, Serena and Ohanian have made it clear they are still spending time together as a family. They recently posted photos of attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour with their daughter Olympia, demonstrating their commitment to family life despite the noise on social media.
In the end, while the post has certainly sparked conversation, there has been no confirmation of any serious issues in their marriage. For now, it seems that the Williams-Ohanian family is staying strong and weathering the scrutiny together.
