Whoopi Goldberg Defends Serena Williams Against Stephen A. Smith’s Criticism
Whoopi Goldberg has voiced her disapproval regarding Stephen A. Smith’s critique of Serena Williams’ cameo during the Super Bowl halftime show.
“Why wasn’t it about how amazing Serena was? Instead, it’s about some ex-boyfriend she hasn’t thought about?” Goldberg, 69, questioned during the February 11 episode of The View. “Is your only focus her past relationship? I can’t wrap my head around why you’d even suggest it was about Drake. Do you really think she isn’t smart enough?”
When Kendrick Lamar performed his hit “Not Like Us” at the Super Bowl on February 9, cameras zoomed in on Williams, 43, who was executing a crip walk on a platform in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome. This particular dance style originated in Compton, California, where both Lamar, 37, and Williams were raised.
Some viewers, including Smith, 57, noted that “Not Like Us” serves as a diss track aimed at Drake, who was romantically linked to Williams back in the early 2010s, although the pair never confirmed their supposed relationship publicly.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Venus Williams proved she is her sister’s biggest supporter after Serena made a surprise appearance during the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. “Lil sis is killing it,” Venus, 44, wrote on her Instagram Story on February 10, resharing Serena’s performance video. Venus added comments on Serena’s performance from Sunday, February 10.
“If I were married and my wife was busy revisiting her ex while being with me, I’d say goodbye,” Smith commented on the February 10 episode of First Take. “What is she concerned about him for when she’s with me? Bye. Bye.”
Goldberg disagreed with Smith’s implication that Williams’ appearance was solely focused on Drake.
“She seized the opportunity to do something she wanted, and instead of celebrating it, you bring it back to something ancient,” Goldberg expressed during a “Hot Topics” segment. “Stop trying to make everything about someone’s romantic past.”
Goldberg received backing from several of her co-hosts, who celebrated Williams’ unexpected appearance.
The View cohost Sunny Hostin asserted that Williams was recreating a dance she performed at the 2012 Olympics after her victory over Russia’s Maria Sharapova to win the gold medal.
On-air mistakes create memorable moments, and Whoopi Goldberg had her latest slip-up on the June 26 episode of The View. During a discussion about travel preferences in the “Hot Topics” segment, the Oscar-winning actress, 67, misspoke her script. “A survey of 2,000 U.K. adults found that when they travel, food…”
“She faced significant criticism for that,” Hostin, 56, reflected. “What Serena showcased at the Super Bowl was her true self, a celebration of her roots from Compton, demonstrating Black joy and excellence.”
One perspective that notably matters is that of Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian. Following the Super Bowl, the entrepreneur seemed to respond to the backlash surrounding his wife.
“Some of you all clearly have no understanding of how Serena was criticized for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago…” he wrote via X on Monday. “This is about more than just the music.”
