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Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Serena Williams’ Super Bowl Cameo, Compares It to Marriage Issues

Stephen A. Smith from ESPN took aim at Serena Williams over her brief appearance during Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance at Super Bowl 59.

The tennis legend made a surprise cameo while Lamar performed his track "Not Like Us," a song known for dissing rapper Drake. Williams, who has a past relationship with Drake, was spotted doing the crip-walk during Lamar's performance, and the moment quickly became the topic of conversation.

On Monday's First Take, Smith didn’t hold back his criticism. While Lamar rapped the 2024 Grammy-winning "Record of the Year," Williams’ dance moves seemed to draw more attention than the music itself. Many were surprised by her appearance, given her past romantic connection to Drake, which she dated in 2011. Drake has referenced their relationship in his songs multiple times, and Stephen A. wasn’t impressed by her dancing to a diss track aimed at Drake.

As Smith discussed the performance on the show, he compared it to his own views on relationships. "If I’m married, and my wife is out here trolling her ex, then I’m sending her back to him. Clearly, you don’t belong with me," Smith remarked. He continued, "What’s the point of worrying about your ex if you're with me? Bye. Bye."

Williams, who has been married to Alexis Ohanian for eight years and shares two daughters with him, wasn’t immune to this kind of commentary. But former NFL player Ryan Clark quickly jumped to her defense, pointing out that if a man were married to Serena Williams, he’d likely be in a position to be well taken care of. "If you’re with Serena Williams, you're gonna be a kept man, anyway," Clark said.

Shannon Sharpe also weighed in, pointing out that Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, is doing just fine with his $150 million net worth. "I think Alex is doing pretty well," Sharpe added, defending Ohanian’s position.

Meanwhile, Dan Orlovsky admitted he didn’t even realize that Williams and Drake had ever been in a relationship, which got a laugh from the rest of the panel. Despite the drama, both Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian shared their support for her appearance on social media, celebrating the performance together.

Williams wasn’t the only ex of Drake to join in the fun during the Super Bowl halftime show. Lamar’s special guest, R&B singer SZA, also has a history with Drake, having dated him back in 2009. Drake has also referenced their past relationship in several of his songs.

The halftime show marked a significant moment for Kendrick Lamar as he became the first rapper to ever headline the Super Bowl. He performed following the Philadelphia Eagles' 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.