A luxury hotel in Paris had to say sorry to Serena Williams and her family after the retired American tennis superstar was reportedly turned away from the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams wrote on X Monday.
Williams, 42, has been in Paris with her husband Alexis Ohanian and their two daughters, Olympia, 6, and Adira, 10 months, since the start of the 2024 Olympics.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist took part in this year’s Olympic torch relay as the flame made its way from the Seine to the Olympic Cauldron. During her segment, she was joined by Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comăneci.
After more than a week of Olympic events, Williams tried to enjoy a meal at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel known for its stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.
But when she got there, Williams claimed she and her family were not allowed in, despite seeing an “empty restaurant.”
Fans quickly showed their support for Williams, and the Peninsula Paris responded too.
“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight.
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,” the hotel said in a statement.
“We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again,” they concluded.
Williams has not responded yet, and opinions are divided on the hotel’s explanation. Some fans said, “You make a table for her!” while others thought, “She owes your team the apology.”
What do you think? Who should apologize? Let us know in the comments.
