Serena Williams was embroiled in controversy with a self-spontaneous Crip Walk celebration following her historic victory at the 2012 Olympics. The dance famously associated with urban culture reacted to an upsurge of fan and critic responses all the more poignant considering her sister, Yetunde Price, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Compton years earlier.
Fans call out Serena Williams for crip walking on stage after her sister was k*lled in a drive by shooting in Compton by a crip PIC.TWITTER.COM/Y5ZY0HDOT9
— Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) JULY 12, 2024
This was after the gold medal women’s tennis singles sidemen, where Williams emerged first by defeating Maria Sharapova in a most thrilling final. Serena whoppingly defeated Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1. In the midst of joyful cheers and celebratory Wimbledon grass court atmosphere, an overwhelmed-with-joy Serena broke into the Crip Walk—a dance move affiliated with the Crips gang that hailed from California’s urban neighborhoods.
This dance, associated with the Crips neighborhood gang, was received with a range of reactions following its posting online. Fox Sports reporter Jason Whitlock described the dance as “immature and classless,” equating it to telling a tasteless joke in church. Fox Sports colleague Reid Forgrave expressed their displeasure by tweeting Serena’s dance had no place at Wimbledon.
The performance, which for Williams was purely an expression of delight, immediately elicited a polarized response. Many critics were quick to condemn her display as romanticizing gang gestures and, given the tragic history of her sister, at the very least disrespectful. Yetunde Price was, in fact, a beloved member of society who served as a nurse and mother of three, and part owner of a hair salon when she was tragically killed in a case of mistaken identity at the hands of a former Southside Crips member.
Speaking in response to the backlash, Williams said her dance was totally spontaneous and not premeditated, an spontaneous outburst of emotion:
“I love to dance. I didn’t know what else to do. I was so happy, and next thing I know I started dancing and moving. I didn’t plan it. It just happened.” She further went on to add that she did not even know the name of that dance or what exactly it is famously called for.
The worse the criticism got, the stronger Williams stood to defend her celebratory revelry. She shrugged off media and public complaints alike by embracing positives in her achievement not to let any controversy shine off from her coloured shining moment of victory. Her dismissive response boded well for a celebration with no apologies.
Public figures, among them rapper Snoop Dogg, stood up for her by seeing Williams dance as acceptance of heritage and self-expression that did not carry any political message. To defend her, they emphasized the complexity of cultural gestures interpreted against personal history and public perception.
Serena Williams, born in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1981, has made a dent in the annals of tennis history on her own right. She has been a powerhouse for anything athletic, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and an unprecedented Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles. Off-court, Williams was vocal on social matters and used her platform to be an outright champion for issues that personally matter the most.
Though finally—a Crip Walk dance that provoked equal controversy—Serena Williams opened up a dialogue about cultural expression and personal celebration in the face of adversity. Her legacy, defined by resilience and determination on and off the court, continues to inspire generations as a reminder of how the complexities that arise in interpreting gestures and actions are just as great amidst personal triumph as among tragic events.
Her controversial crip walk performance also showed the world that she was not afraid to be herself for her fans. Of course, Serena represents a singular ability blend of skill, identity, humor, and authenticity. The animatedness in which this tennis legend expressed oneself led to a candid, imaginative feel of what is brought at the ESPYs as far as her fans are concerned.
