Serena Williams explains Taylor Swift Super Bowl snub, blasts ‘mean’ fans and clarifies Drake relationship
Serena Williams has revealed she deliberately avoided meeting Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl back in February because the Kansas City Chiefs were losing.
Williams, who attended the game at the Superdome in New Orleans, had hoped to get Swift’s autograph for her daughter Olympia.
The 23-time grand slam champion and her husband Alexis Ohanian considered visiting Swift in her suite during the match.
However, Williams ultimately decided against approaching the popstar as she watched boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Chiefs struggle against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs’ attempt to win a third consecutive Super Bowl ended in disappointment as the Eagles secured a commanding 40-22 victory.
Williams explained her decision in an interview with Time magazine after being named one of their 100 Most Influential People.
‘I’m such a mom,’ Williams told Time. ‘I was ready to go in here myself and be like, “Taylor, come get this girl.”‘
She acknowledged that the game’s progression made it difficult to find an appropriate moment to approach Swift.
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‘It’s hard when your team is losing. I totally get it,’ she added.
The tennis star showed empathy for Swift’s situation as the Chiefs fell further behind during the match.
Williams clearly understood the awkwardness of disturbing someone during a disappointing sporting event, especially when seeking an autograph.
Swift was also subjected to booing from fans inside the Superdome when she appeared on the big screen during the game.
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Williams came to Swift’s defence, expressing her disapproval of the crowd’s reaction.
‘Why would you boo her? That’s so mean. That’s just awful,’ Williams said.
Swift has become a regular fixture at NFL games since beginning her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Her presence at matches has drawn mixed reactions from sports fans throughout the season.
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Williams’ defence of Swift demonstrates solidarity between two high-profile women who have both experienced public scrutiny.
In the same interview, Williams addressed speculation about her cameo in Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show performance of ‘Not Like Us’, a diss track about Drake.
Many viewers interpreted her appearance as throwing shade at Drake, whom she reportedly dated between 2011 and 2015.
Williams, however, firmly denied this interpretation.
‘Absolutely not. I would never do that. And that was sad, that anyone would ever think that,’ she added.
She acknowledged how people might have drawn that conclusion but insisted it wasn’t her intention.
‘I respect how they could. Obviously I can see how someone would think that. But absolutely not,’ Williams explained.
‘I have never had negative feelings towards him. We’ve known him for so many years.’