New Orleans, LA — Serena Williams, a celebrated athlete recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has not only captured headlines for her athletic prowess but also for a dance move steeped in controversy. At the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, Williams performed a Crip Walk while appearing alongside rapper Kendrick Lamar, eliciting a mixed reaction from fans who were aware of the tragic backstory tied to her familial ties with the gang associated with the dance.
The origins of the Crip Walk, or C-Walk, trace back to the 1970s, attributed to Robert Jackson, known among his peers as ‘Sugar Bear,’ a member of the infamous Crips gang in Los Angeles. This dance, characterized by intricate foot movements that spell out “C-R-I-P,” was not only a display of dexterity but also served as a dark symbol of allegiance within the gang culture, often performed in the aftermath of violent gang confrontations.
Williams’ association with the dance first became widely known after her victory at the 2012 London Olympics, where she publicly performed the C-Walk on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. The move was celebrated by some as a harmless nod to hip-hop culture, while others saw it as insensitive given the violent implications of its origins. The dance resurfaced in Serena’s repertoire at various public appearances, including the 2023 ESPY Awards, and, most recently, at the 2025 Super Bowl.
However, the celebratory nature of the dance clashes with a painful episode in Williams’ family history. In 2003, Serena’s half-sister, Yetunde Price, was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting by a member of the Crips gang— the very gang associated with the origins of the C-Walk. At the age of 31, Price was shot in the head while sitting in an SUV with her boyfriend outside what was reported to be a suspected drug house in Compton, an area known for gang violence.
The man responsible for Price’s death, Robert Edward Maxfield, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter, following two mistrials related to the case. This loss devastated the Williams family, with Serena publicly expressing her grief and the ongoing struggle to cope with her sister’s death.
The public’s response to seeing Williams perform the C-Walk was polarized; some expressed outrage and sorrow over the apparent disregard for the gravity of her sister’s death, while others debated the intention behind her choice of dance. Venus Williams defended her sister’s actions, downplaying the dance as merely “a dance” devoid of any violent connotations.
Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, reacted to the critiques of Serena’s dance, reflecting on the scrutiny she faced when she first performed the C-Walk at Wimbledon. On Instagram, he emphasized the evolution of public perception regarding the dance and hinted at the deeper, perhaps misunderstood, significance of its inclusion in her performances.
This moment at the Super Bowl thus serves as a complex intersection of culture, personal history, and public perception, illustrating how a simple dance can encapsulate layers of meaning and controversy. As the debate continues, it highlights the ongoing dialogue about the intersections of entertainment, personal history, and public sensitivity.