Serena Williams is not here for the nonsense. The tennis icon and beauty mogul has had enough of the relentless rumors about her complexion and took to Instagram Live to set the record straight. After years of speculation that she’s been bleaching her skin or altering her features, Williams delivered a bold, no-holds-barred message: “I do not bleach my skin, and I love how I look.”
“Serena’s Clapback Heard Around the World”
During a Cyber Monday live session promoting her WYN makeup line, Williams took time to address her critics while casually applying foundation in her bathroom. “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors,” she said with an edge of sass. “For you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin.”
Williams didn’t stop there. She also reminded everyone that her recent appearance at her daughter Olympia’s Nutcracker recital, where she wore stage makeup, had nothing to do with altering her natural skin tone. “Yes, I’m calling you out on this … because it is ridiculous,” she said firmly, addressing the chatter surrounding her lighter look.
“A Legacy Under Fire”
For years, the 23-time Grand Slam champion has faced criticism from social media trolls accusing her of wanting to look lighter to align with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, who is of Armenian and German descent. Serena wasn’t having it.
“I’m a dark Black woman, and I love who I am and how I look,” she declared, shutting down claims that she has skin dysmorphia or has been trying to “lighten up” for her marriage.
“Fans Have Her Back”
Despite the harsh criticism from some, many fans rallied behind Williams with affirming comments. One fan wrote, “She’s right, a bleached skin doesn’t look this healthy. It looks burnt.” Another added, “I’m dark-skinned, and I look lighter in the sun and under good lighting too—y’all need to stop.”
“Leave this unproblematic woman alone,” one supporter demanded, while another pointed out, “Your skin changes as you age. If you look at your moms and aunties, you’d know this.”
“Haters Won’t Quit, But Neither Will Serena”
Even as Serena directly addressed the haters, conspiracy theories about her appearance persist. Some accused her of using chemical peels or makeup tricks to appear lighter, while others focused on her facial features, claiming she’s had cosmetic surgery.
“Girl, forget your color—what the hell happened to your face?” one harsh critic commented, while another called her out as a “Lying a— Libra.”
But Serena didn’t let the negativity faze her. She lightened the mood by joking about her bathroom wallpaper and how it enhances her true complexion. “It gives me more of my true color—the color that I’ve never bleached,” she said with a laugh.
“Owning Her Truth”
This isn’t the first time Serena has clapped back at rumors. Earlier this year, she posted a glamorous photo on Instagram with the caption, “100% real … forehead to toe,” poking fun at the speculation about her appearance.
When she graced the cover of Essence magazine in October, her radiant skin tone silenced doubters, proving once again that sunlight, good lighting, and her natural beauty are all the ingredients Serena needs.
“Serena’s Message: Love Yourself and Block the Noise”
While the chatter around Serena Williams’ complexion and features may never completely go away, one thing is clear: the tennis legend isn’t here to entertain it. She’s unapologetically confident in her skin, her beauty, and her identity.
“To each their own,” she said, “but this life is mine, and I love the woman I see in the mirror every day.”
And just like that, Serena Williams proved once again why she’s a GOAT—on and off the court.
4o
