Tennis superstar Serena Williams recently shared a reaction on Instagram Stories to a cotton plant decoration she encountered in a New York City hotel. The decorative display, featuring cotton balls, seemed to make Williams uncomfortable, as captured in two separate video clips.
In one of the videos, the legendary athlete expressed her unease, asking, “How do we feel about cotton as decoration?” She followed up with, “Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great.” In a subsequent clip, she was seen picking up a cotton ball, rubbing it on her nail, and visibly shuddering.
While the video has circulated widely, eliciting a range of responses from social media users, the exact reason behind Williams’ reaction remains ambiguous. It’s unclear whether her discomfort stemmed from the texture of the cotton itself or from its historical association with slavery and its deep roots in the United States.
The internet’s reaction has been divided. Many social media users have voiced disagreement with Williams’ apparent reaction, with comments such as “Get over it, it’s a decoration” and “OMG, cut out this c**p! I have seen plenty of cotton decorations, and they have absolutely no connection to slavery or racism!” Another user commented, “OMG Serena Williams, get a grip. It was a damn display and a pretty one. I also guess some of your clothes are cotton OMG!” A fourth user quipped, “Multi-millionaire offended by potted plant.”
According to reports, the 43-year-old athlete was in New York for the Nike x SKIMS collaboration. However, the specific hotel where she encountered the cotton plant decoration has not been disclosed.
This moment comes as Williams has also faced scrutiny for her partnership with the GLP-1 medicine company Ro. A promotional video featuring the athlete seemingly injecting herself with weight loss medication drew disappointment from some fans, who felt it sent a negative message about body image and success.