Serena Williams is expressing frustration after she and her children were allegedly turned away from dining at a restaurant in Paris during the 2024 Olympics.
The retired tennis legend, 42, served as a torch bearer for the Paris Olympics, which kicked off last month in the French capital. She was also spotted cheering on Team USA’s gymnastics team during their final on July 30 alongside other A-listers like Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman.
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While trying to grab a bite to eat at the Peninsula Paris, a historic luxury hotel previously known as Hotel Majestic, Williams claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that she was denied access to one of its restaurants.
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids,” she wrote on Monday alongside frowning emojis. “Always a first.”
The mom of two, who shares young daughters Adira and Olympia with husband Alexis Ohanian, did not reveal whether Ohanian was with them at the time of the incident.
HuffPost has reached out to Williams’ reps and Peninsula Paris for comment.
Social media users on X rallied behind the 23-time Grand Slam champion after she and her kiddos were rejected.
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Imagine turning Serena Williams away from an EMPTY restaurant? For shame!
— TatiTHOPE | Here For Annika’s Emmy (@TatiPolvo) August 5, 2024
You were denied access because they were serving prejudice.
Shame on them.
— Alexander Nevermind (@AlexNever347) August 5, 2024
Sorry that happened to you. They should have been honored to have you.
— Jenny Morris (@JennyMorri72146) August 5, 2024
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