Serena Williams made headlines with her surprise Super Bowl halftime appearance, where she joined Kendrick Lamar on stage. However, her performance of the Crip Walk dance move during Lamar’s set stirred controversy and mixed reactions.

While some criticized Williams for her choice of dance, ESPN’s Stephen A Smith and Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock found fault with her performance, likening it to a tasteless joke in a sacred place. Whitlock went as far as stating that Williams should apologize for her actions. In defense of his wife, Alexis Ohanian, took to social media to address the criticism, highlighting the past scrutiny Williams faced for a similar dance move at Wimbledon.

The debate surrounding Williams’ cameo extended beyond her dance moves. Questions arose about her involvement in a performance linked to Lamar’s ongoing feud with Drake, her rumored ex. Despite the criticism, Williams remained unfazed and even humorously addressed the comparisons to her past controversies in a social media video.

Sharing behind-the-scenes moments from the performance, Williams gave her followers a glimpse into the preparation and energy of the Super Bowl halftime show. The tennis legend seemed to take the feedback in stride, showing that she was unapologetically herself on the big stage.