Serena Williams' Gym Selfies Spark Weight Loss Debate

Buzz Feed

16-07-2025

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Serena Williams's physical appearance has been the target of scrutiny by the public, but this time, fans are firing back at the negativity.
Serena, who's often referred to as the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) when it comes to tennis, has been the target of criticism since she began playing the sport professionally at the young age of 14, with her older sister, Venus Williams, who's also a highly decorated Olympian.
From the beads she wore in her hair...
...to the "controversial" outfits she rocked on the court, Serena has been the target of scrutiny since the beginning, with conversations often having nothing to do with the sport itself.
But some of the most shocking and disgusting comments that have been uttered or typed about the multi-Grand Slam winner, were focused specifically on her body. For decades the media has always had a weird fascination with the shape, look, and size of Serena's body.
She appeared "different" compared to other athletes in the predominantly white sport, which made her and her sister prime targets for racism and microaggressions. Serena remembered being called the the n-word during the 2001 BNP Paribas Open in California, as the crowd booed Serena and her sister.
"When Venus and I were walking down the stairs to our seats, people kept calling me 'nigger,'" her father and coach Richard Williams later told journalists. One man, he said, threatened, "'I wish it was '75; we'd skin you alive.'"
The mom of two was (and, honestly, still is) constantly compared to an animal, while others called her aggressive and frightening. Her athletic build was deemed unattractive, unfeminine, and frequently likened to the physique of a man.
But despite the incessant body-shaming, Serena never let that get in the way of winning. She is now one of the most decorated tennis players in history, breaking records and barriers throughout her impressive career.
Serena announced her retirement in 2022, citing she was "evolving away" from the sport. In fact, she wanted to shy away from the word "retirement" and think of it more as an "evolution." She also mentioned a desire to expand her family.
Outside of raising two daughters — 7-year-old Olympia and 1-year-old Adira River — with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, Serena has her hands in many buckets, including running a venture capital firm, co-owning a WNBA team, and more. But even as she continues to expand her empire, somehow the focus always comes back to Serena's appearance.
On July 11, Serena shared a series of gym selfies after a workout. She playfully captioned the carousel, "Working out and working on my angles."
She showed off her chisled abs and toned arms as she posed in front of the mirror.
The photos caused a debate in the comments. Some, who couldn't look past her noticeable weight loss, voiced concern for Serena, while others accused her of using Ozempic and losing all her curves:
Others showered her with compliments, applauding her for her dedication and strength:
As more fans chimed in, they came to Serena's defense, stating that the focus should be on how happy she feels:
While some reminded others of the ramifications words can have, especially when you're an outsider placing judgment on someone you don't know personally. One person even used Chadwick Boseman's untimely death as an example, when the world didn't know he was sick, and jokes were being made about his dramatic weight loss.
You can check out Serena's full transformation below:
And for goodness' sake, can we just be kind? Every thought that crosses our mind, especially if it's a negative one, doesn't need to be shared publicly for other people to see.