Drake Appears to Throw Shade at Serena Williams After Super Bowl Cameo

Drake has seemingly responded to Serena Williams’ surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show in a way that has raised eyebrows among fans. The Toronto rapper took to his burner Instagram account, @plottttwistttttt, to post a throwback photo of himself with Williams’ former longtime agent, Jill Smoller. The picture, taken at Wimbledon in 2015, shows Drake cheering on Serena during one of her matches, a move many interpreted as a subtle jab at his ex.

While Serena has not publicly addressed the post, fans were quick to call out Drake’s reaction. Many criticized him for what they saw as an unnecessary and petty move, especially considering the performance’s context. Some comments on his post called it “creepy and weird,” while others pointed out that he seemed to respond quicker to Serena than to his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar.

Serena Williams made a surprise appearance toward the end of Kendrick’s halftime show, briefly joining him on stage while he performed his viral Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” The tennis icon, who hails from Compton, even broke into a quick Crip Walk, a nod to her past controversial victory celebration at Wimbledon in 2012.

Following her appearance, Serena faced criticism from certain media personalities, including Charlamagne Tha God and Stephen A. Smith. However, her husband, Alexis Ohanian, was quick to defend her on social media. He reminded critics that she had been unfairly scrutinized for the same dance over a decade ago and that her Super Bowl moment was about more than just music. Serena herself later joked about the performance, saying she never danced like that at Wimbledon because she would have been fined.

This isn’t the first time Serena and Drake’s past relationship has been linked to Kendrick’s ongoing beef with the OVO rapper. Kendrick even referenced Serena on “Not Like Us,” rapping: “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither / From Alondra down to Central, n***a better not speak on Serena.”

Drake and Serena were rumored to have dated around 2011, with Drake frequently attending her matches and even referencing her in songs. However, their relationship never became official, and Serena later married Ohanian in 2017.

With the tension between Drake and Kendrick Lamar still at an all-time high, Serena’s cameo only added more fuel to the fire. Whether Drake’s post was meant as a genuine trip down memory lane or a subtle shot at his ex, the internet was quick to dissect every possible meaning.