Serena Williams shames Paris restaurant for turning her and her kid away during 2024 Olympics – and the five-star hotel replies
Serena Williams has criticised a five-star hotel in Paris for denying her family access to a rooftop restaurant despite it being completely empty.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion went to X to publicly complain about the treatment she received at The Peninsula Hotel on Monday, expressing her annoyance at the way her visit had gone.
‘Ouch,’ Williams wrote. ‘@peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to the rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant or in nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first.’
Williams also shared a photo of the sign on the hotel so her followers could see which establishment she was referring to.
The Peninsula Hotel later expressed its regret for turning Williams down, sharing the following on X: ‘Dear Mrs Williams, Our sincere apologies for the disappointment you experienced this evening.
Serena Williams and her daughter Olympia were denied access to a Paris hotel on Monday
The five-star Paris Peninsula hotel later apologized to the tennis legend on social media
Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only free tables you saw were those of our gastronomic restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was completely reserved.
‘We have always felt it was an honor to welcome you and will always feel it is an honor to welcome you again. The Peninsula Paris.’
Williams fans were quick to criticize the hotel for turning down the tennis legend. One X user asked: “How can someone be turned down when they’re Serena Williams… lol”
“Good thing you didn’t have to waste money on that,” another fan commented.
‘You better not go there, the food is substandard. Unfortunately I’ve had to pay for it a few times,’ said someone else.
Williams competed in various Olympic disciplines in Paris with her six-year-old daughter Olympia and her family.
Williams has been a regular at the Olympic Games since he took part in the opening ceremony
She was also one of many famous names present at the opening ceremony of the Games on July 26, sharing a boat with Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci.
Williams described the ceremony as “unforgettable.”
“From being part of an amazing opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics to riding in the boat in the rain – and it was pouring! So much so that my eyelashes fell off instantly,” she joked on X.
In addition to her Grand Slam victories, Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, including in singles and doubles at London 2012.