Paris restaurant responds to Serena Williams attack for refusing entry to tennis player and her children

Tennis champion Serena Williams has an estimated net price of $340 million. Then add 4 Olympic medals. Seven Wimbledon singles titles and the title of arguably the best Grand Slam player of all time.

But talent, fame and wealth didn’t stop the mother of two from being denied entry to among the best hotels in France to have lunch with her children throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She and her husband Alexis Ohanian are parents to 6-year-old Olympia and daughter Adira, who was born in December 2023.

It’s unclear when the incident occurred, but Williams took to social media Monday, Aug. 5 to address the restaurant. She said, “Oh my @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to the roof to eat at an empty restaurant in better places but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024.”

Afterwards, a whole bunch of individuals asked, “Who denied him entry into GOAT?”

Although Williams never gave an actual reason for why she and her children were refused entry, word of the slight spread quickly, with many pointing to racial or national origin discrimination as the rationale for the disrespect.

“Everyone knows the French don’t like black people,” one person wrote on The Shade Room blog. fasting concerning the hotel’s refusal to accommodate Williams and her family.

Another added: “Between the Jamaicans who pulled out of their events, Sha’Carri and Shelly being denied entry, Coco being treated unfairly on the field and Serena being denied entry to a nice rooftop restaurant… Paris doesn’t seem to be kind to black people.”

Another cheekily asked: “Why was she refused? Did they give a reason or was it racism?”

Sha’Carri Richardson and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were briefly barred from the 100m warm-up area after a rule change, while Jamaican runner Shericka Jackson withdrew from the 200m on Sunday.

Williams considers Paris his second home, even buying two bedroom pied-à-terrea small apartment within the seventh arrondissement in 2007. Before the recent backlash, she recalled fondly the time she spent there.

Someone said that the City of Light is: “Paris is that bad/introverted friend that invites you over but doesn’t want you to show up or touch anything.”

Some social media users have slammed the Olympic committee for a series of horror stories about how athletes of color are treated.

“Paris and the Olympic drama. They should never have the games again,” someone said. “They were HORRIBLE in their treatment of athletes—especially black and brown athletes.”

Others suggested it was a wider problem for France, comparing it to one other recent incident that drew criticism for racist treatment.

“Paris gives Cannes the red carpet,” one post read, referring to a May 2024 incident when singer Kelly Rowland was herded onto the red carpet throughout the premiere of “Marcello Mio” on the Cannes Film Festival by a staff member who was standing across from the guest.

Many assumed Rowland was offended for wagging her finger and frowning on the sight of a white woman who was considered one of the safety guards who pushed her down the red carpet steps into the hall. Meanwhile, other stars of color on the red carpet didn’t receive the identical treatment.

The Destiny’s Child singer was quick to say it was a transparent act of discrimination.

However, on this case, with Williams, there isn’t enough information to investigate what really happened.

One post said: “Maybe they don’t want kids on the roof. We need more context.”

The Peninsula Paris, which has been named the very best hotel in the town, has a rooftop restaurant and bar, L’Oiseau Blanc, where guests can enjoy views of the town, According to to the web site.

While hotels are generally family-friendly, policies regarding children in specific areas, reminiscent of the terrace, may vary. Typically, fantastic dining restaurants and bars could have restrictions or specific guidelines for young children.

For now, fans only know that one of the decorated tennis players on the planet was not allowed into the event.

Many have already began bombarding the European establishment with negative reviews on Google.

Others simply encouraged Williams to “support a black-owned restaurant in Paris” on her next visit to Paris.

The hotel later issued a press release apologizing to the tennis icon for the error.

“Dear Ms. Williams, Please accept our sincerest apologies for the disappointment you experienced this evening,” read a message on the restaurant’s website, X. “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was fully booked and the only tables you saw were in our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully booked.”

In diversity reportMaxine Mannevy, who works on the Peninsula restaurant, said Williams looked “unrecognizable.”

“When she arrived, there were only two tables available, which had been reserved by hotel guests,” Mannevy explained. “My colleague didn’t recognize her and felt terrible, but he told her what he would tell any other customer, which was to wait downstairs at the bar until a table became available. It was absolutely nothing personal.”