Serena Williams has come under fire from fans for her controversial joke about WNBA star Caitlin Clark at the 2024 ESPY Awards. The 23-time Grand Slam champion drew ire for likening the Indiana Fever star with NBA legend Larry Bird, jokingly referencing “white people’s” love for both athletes.

Williams took on the role of host for the prestigious awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 11. While introducing Clark, the former World No. 1 commended the Indiana Fever star on her three nominations, praising her for her “amazing year.”

Serena Williams also quipped about Clark being the Larry Bird of the WNBA, joking that “white people” were crazy about the 22-year-old.

“Caitlin Clark had an amazing year and is nominated for three awards. Caitlin, You are the Larry Bird in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana, and white people are really crazy about you,” Serena Williams said.

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While the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s quip elicited laughter from the audience, it has been met with criticism on social media. Fans expressed their outrage at Serena Williams for incorporating race into her joke.

“Smh. Serena, stop talking,” one fan commented.

“Why bring race into it?” a fan wrote.

“Some white people like @serenawilliams and some black people like Caitlin Clark. Generalization is provocative. Good job Serena. You were provocative for 5 minutes. Congratulations. Next,” another fan chimed in.

 

“‘White people’ a shame Serena had to go there, she should do better,” said another.

Others, meanwhile, voiced their disappointment with the 42-year-old for feeding the “hate machine” against Cailtin Clark, especially as she had jumped to the Indiana Fever rookie’s defense over negative scrutiny just a few weeks ago.

“Wrong. I am very much Black and very much a Caitlin fan. I guess Serena got the memo after her previous support of Caitlin. Pathetic,” one fan posted.

“Never was a fan. Irresponsible comment feeding this hate machine,” another fan shared.

“Really disappointed she would agree to say something like that,” said yet another.

“I got a line the other day, and I was like, ‘I don’t want to say that’” – Serena Williams admits ‘struggle’ with poking fun at people as ESPYs 2024 host

Amid the backlash over her joke about Caitlin Clark, it’s worth mentioning that Serena Williams admitted to “struggling” with having to make fun of people as the host for the 2024 ESPY Awards.

In an interview with Vanity Fair before her hosting duties, the former World No. 1 revealed her reluctance to say a particular line provided by the writers but recognized it as an integral part of the job.

“I think as a host you have to make fun of people, and I’m struggling with that. I got a line the other day, and I was like, I don’t want to say that. But I also understand that’s part of the job,” she said.

During the interview, Williams also opened up about how thoughts of a potential comeback linger in the “back of her mind,” confessing that she found it difficult to watch the 2024 Wimbledon Championships because she felt the urge to compete herself.