Stephen A. Smith Sparks Controversy Over Serena Williams’ Super Bowl Cameo

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith stirred up controversy after sharing his strong reaction to Serena Williams’ surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, joined Lamar on stage as he performed his explosive Drake diss track, “Not Like Us”, sparking debates about her involvement—especially given her past relationship with the Canadian rapper.

Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Serena Williams’ Halftime Cameo

During the Feb. 10 episode of ESPN’s “First Take” podcast, Smith made it clear that he wouldn’t have been comfortable if he were in the shoes of Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian.

“If I’m your husband, I’m thinking, ‘Why are you up there trolling him—trolling your ex?’” Smith questioned. “If I’m married, and my wife is going to troll her ex—go back to his ass. Because clearly, you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for—and you with me?”

Smith wasn’t just focused on Serena—he also pointed out that R&B star SZA, who performed alongside Kendrick Lamar, had also been romantically linked to Drake in the past.

“Everybody knows that she and Drake were together at one time, and it seemed like everyone wanted to get their lick,” Smith added.

Smith’s Co-Hosts Push Back on His Take

However, not everyone agreed with Smith’s stance. His “First Take” co-hosts, Ryan Clark and Shannon Sharpe, quickly shut down his argument.

Clark fired back, saying, “If you with Serena Williams, you’re going to be a kept man anyway—don’t start that.”

Meanwhile, NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe reminded Smith that Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, is doing just fine financially.

“I think [Alexis] is doing pretty well,” Sharpe responded. “He founded Reddit and then he sold Reddit for a big chunk of change. I think he OK.”

Serena’s Husband Responds to the Super Bowl Cameo

While Smith might have had a problem with Serena’s appearance, Alexis Ohanian had no issues with it.

Shortly after the Super Bowl halftime show, Ohanian took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts—and his reaction was nothing but supportive.

“Pretty fantastic halftime show,” Ohanian posted, congratulating Kendrick Lamar and his wife on the performance.

His response made it clear that he wasn’t bothered by Serena’s involvement, shutting down any speculation of tension over the cameo.

Serena Williams’ Connection to Kendrick Lamar

Beyond her past romance with Drake, Serena’s Super Bowl cameo had deeper significance. Both she and Lamar hail from Compton, California, a city known for producing legendary figures in both sports and music.

Serena herself couldn’t contain her excitement over the experience, sharing behind-the-scenes photos and writing on X:

“Let’s go Super Bowl halftime! I died a little!”

Her appearance alongside Kendrick Lamar marked a powerful moment in the performance, celebrating Compton’s legacy while delivering one of the night’s most talked-about surprises.