Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has slammed Madrid Open tennis tourney director, Ion Țiriac, for body shamming his wife.
Țiriac, who is also Romanian Tennis Federation’s president in an interview for a Romanian TV called for Serena’s retirement over her weight and age.
“At this age and the weight she is now, she does not move as easily as she did 15 years ago. Serena was a sensational player. If she had a little decency, she would retire. From all points of view,” Tiriac said on Romanian TV, according to Eurosport.
Ohanian, 37, who is married to the 39-year-old who so far has 23 Grand Slams was triggered when a tennis reporter posted the interview on Twitter with the comment, “Safe to say Serena will never play Madrid again…,”
Responding in several tweets, Ohanian said, “Safe to say no one gives a damn what Ion Țiriac thinks.”
And Ohanian kept going the next day, pointing out that Țiriac has never won a Grand Slam tournament — while his daughter with Williams, 3-year-old Olympia, was technically around when a pregnant Williams won the 2017 Australian Open.
“Had to Google it… turns out my 3-year-old has more Grand Slam victories than this ? ?,” Ohanian said.
Had to Google it… turns out my 3 year old has more Grand Slam victories than this ?? pic.twitter.com/Q2pgsNWFAj
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ (@alexisohanian) January 4, 2021
And later that day, the Reddit co-founder added that he’s always going to defend his family.
“2021 and no holding back when a racist/sexist clown with a platform comes for my family,” he said. And after another Twitter user tried to defend Țiriac’s comments, Ohanian added, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
It would not be the Romanian businessman’s first criticism of Williams neither will it be the tennis superstar’s first body shaming or racist attack from tennis players, commentators and social media users for years, and has said that she has “purposely tuned people out since I was 17.”
-People
