A luxury hotel in Paris had to apologize to Serena Williams and her family after the retired tennis star was reportedly turned away from the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to the rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams posted on X Monday.
Williams, 42, has been in Paris with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their two daughters, Olympia, 6, and Adira, 10 months, since the start of the 2024 Olympics.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist participated in this year’s Olympic torch relay, carrying the torch from the Seine to the Olympic Cauldron. She was joined by other sports legends like Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, and Nadia Comăneci.
After more than a week of Olympic events, Williams tried to have a meal at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower.
But when she got there, Williams said she and her family were turned away, even though she saw an “empty restaurant.”
Fans quickly supported Williams online, and the Peninsula Paris responded.
“Dear Mrs. Williams, please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight.
Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked, and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved,” the hotel said in a statement.
“We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be honored to welcome you again,” they concluded.
Williams hasn’t replied yet, and people have mixed feelings about the hotel’s explanation. Some fans said, “You make a table for her!” while others thought, “She owes your team the apology.”
What do you think? Who should apologize? Let us know in the comments.
