Serena Williams has called out 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 winner took to X to publicly complain about the treatment she received at The Peninsula Hotel on Monday, sharing her annoyance at the way in which her visit went down.
‘Yikes,’ Williams wrote. ‘@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.’
Williams also shared a snap of the sign on the hotel, so that her followers could know which establishment she was talking about.
The Peninsula Hotel later expressed regret for turning down Williams, sharing on X: ‘Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight.
Serena Williams and her daughter, Olympia, were denied access to hotel in Paris on Monday
The five-star rated Paris Peninsula hotel later apologized to the tennis legend on social media
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 pic.twitter.com/lEGJR5WoEn
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 5, 2024
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 Peninsula Paris (@peninsulaparis) August 5, 2024
‘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.
‘We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again. The Peninsula Paris.’
Williams’ fans were quick to rip the hotel for rejecting the tennis legend as one X user asked: ‘How does one get denied when they are Serena Williams…… lol’
‘Glad you didn’t have to waste money there,’ another fan pointed out.
‘You’re better off not going, their food is subpar — I’ve unfortunately had to pay for it quite a few times,’ someone else said.
Williams has attended several Olympic disciplines with her six-year-old daughter, Olympia, and her family in Paris.
Williams has been a common sight at the Olympics since taking part in the opening ceremony
How does one get denied when they are Serena Williams…… lol
— Anthony Varrell (@V_arrell) August 5, 2024
Glad you didn’t have to waste money there.
— Good Trouble (@MUYK22) August 5, 2024
You’re better off not going, their food is subpar — I’ve unfortunately had to pay for it quite a few times.
— Lateef (@LateefSaka) August 5, 2024
She was also among several high-profile names to be part of the Games’ opening ceremony on July 26, as she shared 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 my lashes came right on off,’ she joked on X.
On top of her Grand Slam victories, Williams has four Olympic gold medals to her name, including in both singles and doubles in London in 2012.
