Serena Williams made waves at Super Bowl 59 when she unexpectedly took the stage during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime performance. While fans were already hyped for Lamar’s set, Serena’s appearance and her choice of dance sent the internet into a frenzy.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion surprised fans with an electrifying crip walk while Lamar performed his Grammy-winning track “Not Like Us.”
The moment was more than just a dance—it was a subtle nod to her past with Drake, who has been at the center of Lamar’s recent diss tracks.
“Not Like Us” is the newest chapter in a 12-year-long rivalry between Lamar and Drake that intensified in May 2024, when the two rappers dropped a series of diss tracks filled with allegations and criticisms related to “race, appropriation, sexual and physical abuse, misogyny, and hypocrisy.”
Although many advised Kendrick Lamar not to perform the song due to the ongoing lawsuit attached after Draked sued Lamar’s record management, UMG.
While Lamar delivered an intense performance of “Not Like Us” at Super Bowl LIX, the camera zoomed out to reveal tennis icon Serena Williams performing a crip walk at the front of the stage while locking her gaze on the camera.
Kendrick Lamar made a nod to Serena in his verses, saying, “From Alondra down to Central, better not speak on Serena.” This line brought additional depth to her presence, particularly considering her past with Drake.
The two were linked romantically in 2015 when Drake closely followed Serena throughout her 2015 season, appearing not just at majors but at WTA 1000 tournaments like the Cincinnati Open, having been seen at her matches in 2011. Though neither has ever publicly confirmed that they dated, Drake claimed that he wrote “Too Good” about Serena Williams in the summer of 2024, and they were often seen together before Serena moved on with her now-husband, Alexis Ohanian.
In 2022, Drake labeled Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, as a “groupie” in his track “Middle of the Ocean.” In response, Reddit co-founder stated that his success comes from “being the best groupie for my wife and daughter.”
While Serena hasn’t directly commented on the past, her participation in the “Not Like Us” performance aimed at Drake speaks volumes. Following the halftime show, her playful social media post further suggests she enjoyed the moment.
As of now, Drake has remained silent about the viral Super Bowl moment, but fans are keeping a close eye on his next move. Given his history of responding to public jabs—whether through music or social media—many are wondering if he’ll address Serena Williams in some way.
