Fans Spot Cotton Sculpture in Serena Williams’ Home, Husband Responds

Alexis Ohanian, the affluent spouse of Serena Williams, is vocally supporting his wife against her critics. The retired tennis star ignited debate when she posted videos of cotton decorations in a New York hotel on September 25. Williams, addressing her 18.2 million Instagram followers, expressed her discomfort with the cotton, likening it to "nail polish remover." This sparked discussions about cotton's historical association with the forced labor of Black Americans. After Page Six suggested Williams' ownership of a cotton sculpture in her Miami home contradicted her stance, Ohanian responded, asserting that comparing the two was “breathtakingly stupid,” emphasizing the artwork's deep symbolism. However, backlash ensued upon fans discovering a photo of their daughter next to another sculpture by Radcliffe Bailey, which ignited further debates about the cultural implications of cotton. Throughout this uproar, Ohanian's commitment to defending Williams was widely acknowledged. Williams and Ohanian, who met in 2015, share two daughters.