Serena Williams, the iconic retired tennis player, recently shared her frustration with a high-end dining experience in Paris. On Monday, August 5, she took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to recount how The Peninsula Hotel turned away her, her husband Alexis Ohanian, and their two children—Alexis Olympia Jr., 6, and Adira River, 11 months—when they sought a table.
The hotel quickly responded to the four-time Olympic gold medalist, explaining their side of the story. “Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked, and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved,” read their initial reply. A follow-up message emphasized their respect and willingness to welcome her again, stating,
“We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again. The Peninsula Paris.”
Maxime Mannevy, an employee at L’Oiseau Blanc, shed light on the situation, explaining that Williams arrived with another woman and a stroller. Mannevy mentioned that his colleague, who didn’t recognize Williams, told her to wait at the bar for a table, as the available ones were reserved for hotel clients. He assured that there was no personal slight intended.
The Peninsula Paris issued another statement to TODAY, expressing their deep respect for Williams and all their guests. They reiterated that the rooftop bar was fully booked and the gourmet restaurant was reserved at the time of her visit. They reassured her that she and her family are always welcome at the hotel.
Williams and her family had arrived in Paris ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony. During the event on July 26, the 23-time Grand Slam champion participated as a torchbearer, joining several athletes in the ceremony. Following this, she remained in Paris, attending various Olympic events, including a match where Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic triumphed over Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz to win gold in men’s singles.
Throughout her illustrious career, Williams secured four Olympic gold medals for Team USA. At the 2012 London Games, she clinched gold in women’s singles and women’s doubles with her sister Venus. The pair had previously won gold in women’s doubles at the Sydney 2000 Games and the Beijing 2008 Games.
Williams’ post about the dining experience stirred reactions from her fans, with some accusing the hotel of racism. One person suggested she should claim racism and demand accountability, while another highlighted that wealth doesn’t shield one from racial bias. However, not everyone sided with Williams; some accused her of acting entitled. Comments like “BREAKING NEWS: Celebrity told ‘no’” and “I’m a celebrity, kick a regular person out so I can eat” reflected this sentiment.
A few hours later, the hotel reiterated their earlier message, confirming they were fully booked despite appearances.
“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”
Williams is in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, accompanied by her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughters, Olympia, 6, and Adira, 1. The former tennis star also participated in the opening ceremony’s torch relay.
