Serena Williams Shuts Down Skin Bleaching Rumors
Tennis icon Serena Williams recently served up a flawless clapback, shutting down claims that she bleached her skin.
On Monday, Dec. 2, during a candid Instagram Live makeup tutorial showcasing products from her beauty brand, Wyn Beauty, Williams addressed critics who claimed she altered her complexion after she posted a video of herself at a school event with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters, Olympia and Adira.
“And then I put just that neutral color, that is actually my skin color, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” Williams said as she did her makeup.
She explained her appearance in the recent viral video, pointing out, “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”
Williams revealed that she was volunteering at her daughter’s play in the now-viral video from late November and was wearing “stage makeup” when she recorded the clip.
“Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous,” Williams said, before stating that she is proud of who she is. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin.’ I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look,” the pro athlete continued, adding that that type of alteration is “just not my thing.”
Williams has no issues with others who may lighten their skin, but she reiterated that it’s not a procedure she’s interested in doing.
“And if people do it, that’s their thing, and they have every opportunity and they should. I don’t judge, but you guys do," she said. “But that’s what this world is about, and I stay in my lane — the non-judgy one, and I keep it. But no, I actually don’t bleach my skin, so can we just kinda clear that up?” she concluded.
The athlete has been open about her cosmetic procedures in the past. In June, she shared an Instagram video of herself receiving a radio frequency treatment at a Paris spa to tighten her stomach. She captioned the post expressing that taking time for herself has always been a challenge, but she’s now learning to carve out moments during nap time to focus on self-care.
