A luxury Parisian hotel has issued an apology to Serena Williams and her family after the retired American tennis star was reportedly denied entry to 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.
Keep reading to learn the reason…
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 participated in this year’s Olympic torch relay, carrying the torch from the Seine to the Olympic Cauldron alongside Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comăneci.
After more than a week of Olympic events, Williams tried to dine at the Peninsula Paris’s rooftop restaurant, which boasts views of the Eiffel Tower. However, she claimed she and her family were denied entry despite the restaurant appearing “empty.”
Fans quickly showed their support for Williams, prompting a response from the Peninsula Paris.
“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’s statement read.
“We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again,” they concluded.
While Williams has yet to respond, reactions to the hotel’s explanation were mixed. Some insisted, “you make a table for her!” while others believed, “she owes your team the apology.”
What do you think? Who should apologize? Let us know in the comments.
