Serena Williams, the Olympic tennis champion, recently faced a surprising refusal at a luxury Parisian hotel. During a visit to The Peninsula Paris with her family, Williams was denied entry to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. The incident occurred despite the rooftop appearing empty at the time. Expressing her frustration, Williams took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, saying, “Yikes @peninsulaparis. I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024. You’re really Gonna Reject Me?!?!”
The Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel known for its breathtaking views of the city, was quick to respond to Williams’ complaint. In a statement shared on X, the hotel apologized, stating, “Dear Mrs. Williams, please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”
Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places 🫠 but never with my kids. Always a first. 🙄#Olympic2024 pic.twitter.com/lEGJR5WoEn
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 5, 2024
Social Media Reactions
Williams’ post quickly garnered significant attention on social media, with many users on X expressing their outrage and accusing the hotel of racism. One user commented, “It doesn’t matter how much money you have. Racism doesn’t care bro,” while another wrote, “You were denied access because they were serving prejudice. Shame on them.” Some users pointed out that the presence of Williams’ white husband might have altered the situation, further fueling the debate.
Mixed Public Opinions
While many supported Williams, others had a different perspective on the incident. Some users criticized Williams for allegedly expecting special treatment due to her fame. One comment read, “Oh no they treated you like you were one of the common folk?! Did you tell them who you are?” Another user noted, “The restaurant replied and said they were fully booked. Please don’t start acting entitled and that they should make space for you just because of who you are.”
Another user expressed disappointment with Williams’ public reaction, stating, “Using your fame to trash a restaurant because they did not bend to your entitled demands is being the worst type of person. I thought you were better than this???”
In Paris for the Olympics
Williams was in Paris as part of her preparations for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. The incident at The Peninsula Paris has sparked a wider conversation on social media about celebrity treatment, entitlement, and underlying issues of racial prejudice. The hotel has maintained its stance, asserting that the rooftop was indeed fully booked, and extended their apologies for any inconvenience caused.