Serena Williams Joins Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, Sparks Reactions with Crip Walk Cameo

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX halftime show featured some big surprises and special appearances, including a memorable moment with tennis icon Serena Williams. The Compton-native joined Lamar and his crew for an electrifying set, contributing her dance moves during the performance of "Not Like Us." Serena stole the spotlight with her impressive crip walk, causing a stir across social media. However, Stephen A. Smith wasn’t exactly impressed by her role in the show.

On First Take the following morning, Smith shared his unfiltered thoughts about Williams' appearance, particularly in light of her past relationship with Drake. During the heated discussion with Molly Qerim, Shannon Sharpe, Dan Orlovsky, and Ryan Clark, Smith expressed his distaste for the moment, especially given the history between Serena and Drake. 

“If I'm married and my wife is trolling her ex, go back to him,” Smith remarked. “What you worried about him for if you're with me? Bye. Bye.”

The debate quickly escalated, with Ryan Clark defending Serena’s involvement, pointing to her hometown connection with Kendrick Lamar. Despite his argument, Smith remained unmoved, criticizing the moment as petty and unnecessary.

Serena’s appearance in Lamar's performance was clearly a calculated move, given Lamar's past beef with Drake. The song “Not Like Us” references the 2015 fling between Serena and Drake, with K. Dot rapping, “From Alondra down to Central, n**** better not speak on Serena.” The inclusion of Serena in the show felt like a direct jab at Drake, who has had a hard time moving on from their brief relationship. In fact, Drake even took shots at Serena and her husband on his 2022 track “Middle Of The Ocean.”

While Stephen A. and others were less than impressed with Serena's involvement, it certainly added an extra layer of drama to the unforgettable halftime performance, and fans couldn't help but buzz about the unexpected moment.

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