The Paris 2024 Olympics have not been without controversy, with several incidents capturing global attention. One such moment involved tennis legend Serena Williams being turned away from a Paris restaurant, sparking a wave of reactions online.
This incident is just one of several high-profile scandals that have marred the Olympic Games. It joins a list of eight controversies that have stirred debates and dominated headlines worldwide.
Serena Williams attends The Prelude to The Paris Games 2024 in Paris, France, on July 25, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
Serena Williams’ Dining Dispute Sparks Online Debate
Serena Williams voiced her frustration on the evening of August 5, 2024, after being denied access to a luxury hotel’s rooftop restaurant in Paris.
The tennis legend, who recently participated as a torch bearer at the Olympics opening ceremony, wrote on X, “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024.”
Olympia Ohanian and Serena Williams attend the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
In response to Williams’ complaint, the restaurant issued an apology for the disappointment she encountered. They clarified, “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”
Serena Williams attends the men’s tennis final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France, on August 4, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
The restaurant emphasized that they have always been honored to welcome Williams and will continue to be ready to welcome her again in the future.
Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, and Adira River attend the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at the Trocadero in Paris, France, on July 26, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
Many online users sided with the restaurant, saying that Williams should have made a reservation like everyone else did. “She deserves the same treatment as anyone else. Quit being a celebrity worshiper,” one user pointed out.
Another person concurred, “She deserves the same treatment as the rest of us maybe next time she’ll book a goddamn table.” Other users were more critical with their comments, noting, ” Don’t apologize to this infantile person! She deserves a Happy Meal, nothing more!!”
Users asked Williams sarcastically, “Oh no they treated you like you were one of the common folk?! Did you tell them who you are?” “Why upset? This is their policy. Equal for everyone,” one more user noted.
An individual ranted that anyone who defends this entitled behavior deserves whatever comes their way. They said, “Imagine if you’re getting a surgery in an hour and that surgeon is top in the country, but someone wealthier than you demands that surgeon to drop you and operate on them… what then?”
An online user told Serena Williams to apologize to the restaurant for acting like an overprivileged person, saying, “So you just expected someone else to lose their seat because you are Serena. Sorry your privilege card doesn’t work everywhere.”
Serena Williams attends the Sacai Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, on June 23, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
A user who weighed in said Williams was not denied access as the restaurant was booked. They added that if Williams had lost a table because someone more famous took their place, she would have been angry, too.
“These could have been anniversary dinners or proposals or people saving a year to eat there—come on. To possibly hurt their revenue. Not cool,” explained the user.
Therefore, many social media users sided with the restaurant, criticizing Williams for not making a reservation and accusing her of entitlement.
