Journalist releases pathetic apology for calling Serena Williams ‘baby’ and asking if she’s intimidated by Maria Sharapova’s looks
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It seems like tennis legend Serena Williams always has to defend her body or her looks in some way. Saturday, a journalist drew ire on social media after asking the tennis champion if she was intimidated by rival Maria Sharapova’s looks.
The two tennis players are scheduled to face off at the French Open today.
Bill Simons of Inside Tennis magazine is backtracking his sexist comments after social media flood him with comments in Williams’ defense.
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But Serena Williams, like the unbothered powerhouse she is, shrugged off the suggestion and shut the reporter’s ridiculous questions down.
Simons said: “After the 2004 Wimbledon match with Maria, I had the opportunity to interview Donald Trump on his [Los Angeles] golf course, and he said that Maria’s shoulders were incredibly alluring.
“And then he came up with this extraordinary analysis: That you were intimidated by her supermodel good looks. My question is: Have you ever been intimidated by anyone on a tennis court, and what are your thoughts about the occurrence?”
Williams replied: “I honestly don’t have any thoughts about that. I can’t say I have been intimidated by anyone. That’s all. That’s it.”
Then he said, “Work with me here, please. We’re in this together, baby.”
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The sports journalist has since apologized after his condescending “baby” comment and asking if she was intimated by Sharapova because of her “alluring” shoulders after fans protested.
“I apologize if my awkward ques seemed 2 empower Trump or attack Serena/ I SO admire her/ I’ve spent [my] lifetime fighting racism/ sexism/ homophobia,” Simons wrote.
“Started campaign to name US Open Stad 4 Ashe/ Lobbied long 2 get Serena 2 return to I. Wells/ Called out police violence vs Blake/ I’m so sorry (sic.)”
Fans did not take kindly to the comments:
All of these things can be true and you can still have an enormous blind spot about the intersection of race and gender and how your question was disappointing AT BEST. And all of the things you’ve done make your question worse. U should know better.
— Ryan Bathe (@michellechel) June 4, 2018
“All of these things can be true and you can still have an enormous blind spot about the intersection of race and gender and how your question was disappointing AT BEST. And all of the things you’ve done make your question worse. U should know better.”
Why ask the person with an overwelming record of victory over someone else if she is the one who is intimidated? Please take the pic of Serena Williams off of your profile.
— Lulit (@LulitMT) June 4, 2018
Another said: “Why ask the person with an overwelming record of victory over someone else if she is the one who is intimidated? Please take the pic of Serena Williams off of your profile.”
What the reporter should have been focused on is the fact that Serena Williams is back with a vengeance.
The superstar athlete scored her first major win since giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr. in September at the 2018 French Open and she looked damn good while doing it.
She beat Kristyna Pliskova 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in the tournament’s first round and she did it while wearing a killer black bodysuit that showed off her shape and peak fitness level less than a year after giving birth and bouncing back from a c-section as well as the life-threatening pulmonary embolism and subsequent hematoma she suffered having her daughter. The athlete was bed-ridden for six weeks and still managed to come back to the game a winner.
“All the moms out there who had a tough pregnancy and had to come back and try to be fierce in the middle of everything. I think that’s what this represents. It’s exciting. I think the catsuit is—you can’t beat a catsuit, right?,” she said during a post-match interview with The Tennis Channel.
She shared some inspiring words for her fans on social media and made it clear the win and the Nike catsuit were dedicated to the moms of the world. “Catsuit anyone? For all the moms out there who had a tough recovery from pregnancy—here you go. If I can do it, so can you. Love you all!!,” she posted.
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