Whoopi Goldberg called out Stephen A. Smith for his comments about Serena Williams. 

Tennis legend Serena Williams made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. ESPN analyst criticized her cameo, but a TV personality, who is 69 years old, came to her defense. Serena Williams is 43 years old and has retired from professional tennis.

‘Why wasn’t it, “Damn, Serena was great?” Why is it about some ex-boyfriend she hasn’t thought of?’ Goldberg asked her co-hosts on Tuesday’s episode The View. 

She continued: ‘All you can think of is her ex-boyfriend? I don’t understand. Why would you even think it was [about Drake]? Why would you think she’s not smart enough?’ 

Goldberg, 69, proceeded to applaud Williams on her performance, which she  insisted was ‘not about Drake.’ 

‘She got a chance to do something she wanted to do, and she went and did it,’ she said. “And instead of saying, “Damn, that was kind of great,” you’re bringing it back to some old stuff.’

Whoopi Goldberg called out Stephen A. Smith for his comments about Serena Williams

The mother-of-two, who is married to Alexis Ohanian, made headlines after crip walking to Lamar’s Drake diss track, Not Like Us, at the NFL championship game.  

The next day, Smith, 57, criticized the decision on his First Take podcast as he stated: ‘If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his a**.’ 

‘Cause, clearly, you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye,’ he added. 

Williams previously dated Drake between 2011 to 2015. 

Goldberg tore apart Smith’s remarks as she pointed out Williams is ‘happily married’ before pleading with the world to ‘stop trying to make’ everything ‘about somebody’s man.’

‘It ain’t always about somebody’s man. It’s about the person. Forget all that other stuff. We do,’ she said. 

Goldberg’s co-host, Sara Haines, pointed out that her cameo was a testament to her strong marriage. 

‘I think it says more about the security of the man in the marriage than it would about that because even her husband was like, “Pretty fantastic halftime show.” Like, it was awesome,’ Haines said.

In response to the ESPN analyst slamming the tennis legend for her unexpected cameo in Kendrick Lamar ’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance, the TV personality, 69, defended the retired athlete, 43 

Meanwhile, Sunny Hostin, pointed out that Williams previously did the same dance move while celebrating her 2012 Olympics victory. 

‘She took a lot of criticism for doing that,’ Hostin recalled. ‘What she was doing was being her authentic self, an homage to her roots from Compton, and it was black joy and black excellence. You’ve got the greatest female athlete of all time coming out and enjoying herself.’ 

Alyssa Farah Griffin added that even it Williams was taking a swipe at the rapper, 38, it was warranted as Drake has come for ‘her marriage in his songs for years.’ 

‘He’s taken digs at her husband,’ Griffin said. ‘I don’t even know that it counts as petty when he’s been deeply petty to you and you’re just clapping back.’ 

Williams previously dated Drake between 2011 to 2015

Williams shut down rumors that her appearance was intended to be a slight at her ex. 

On Tuesday, she shared on Instagram: ‘When @kendricklamar and team called and was like “we’ve been trying to do something forever, what about this? We loved your crip walk at the Olympics after you won the gold medal.” I’m like Super Bowl? Are you serious? When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a superbowl? (Never) let’s do it!’ 

‘I knew my winning dance after the @olympics would pay off one day,’ she said. ‘End of story.’ 

Previously Drake dissed Williams’ husband on his song, Middle Of The Ocean, off his 2022 album Her Loss. 

In the song, he raps, ‘Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie / He claim we don’t got a problem but / No boo, it is like you coming for sushi.’

The mother-of-two, who is married to Alexis Ohanian, made headlines after crip walking to Lamar’s Drake diss track, Not Like Us, at Sunday’s NFL championship game

Previously Drake dissed Williams’ husband on his song, Middle Of The Ocean, off his 2022 album Her Loss

Ohanian responded with a tweet saying, ‘The reason I stay winning is because I’m relentless about being the absolute best at whatever I do – including being the best groupie for my wife [and] daughter.’

Kendrick returned fire on her behalf in ‘Not Like Us’, rapping, ‘From Alondra down to Central / N**** better not speak on Serena.’

In the midst of their beef, Serena delivered a jab of her own at the 2024 ESPYS, which she hosted: ‘If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us – not a single one of us, not even me – should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.’

She added, ‘He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re gonna Forrest Gump him, “seat’s taken”.’