Alexis Ohanian confronts Stephen A. Smith over Serena Williams commentary
During a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Alexis Ohanian confronted Stephen A. Smith over past comments the sports commentator made about his wife, Serena Williams. The clash drew widespread attention to issues of respect, relationships, and public opinion.
The dispute traces back to February, when Serena made a brief appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. She performed a dance move widely interpreted as a “Crip walk” during Lamar’s performance of the song Not Like Us, which many saw as directed toward her former partner, Drake. On First Take, Smith questioned Serena’s choice to appear on stage in what he framed as a provocative act: “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass … What you worried about him for—and you with me?” His remarks implied that her actions were disrespectful to her marriage.
After facing backlash for those comments, Smith later defended himself by saying he was speaking “from a man’s perspective” and that he never intended disrespect toward Serena. He also clarified that his words were meant to be taken in a broader sense rather than personal.
Months later, on October 9, Ohanian made his first public response during a First Take appearance. He challenged Smith by saying, “Stephen A. Smith, I think you had some marriage advice for me, is that right?” He pressed further, asking, “You hadn’t been married before, right?” Ohanian used the moment to draw a comparison: “I give advice to plenty of founders who want to build billion-dollar companies. And the reason I do that is because I build billion-dollar companies. So I generally try to stay in my lane.”
Smith was visibly taken aback. He conceded that he was not “qualified” to offer marriage advice and noted that headlines and context affect how things are perceived. He suggested they could revisit the matter later.
The confrontation represents more than just a celebrity spat. Many see Ohanian’s response as a stand against unsolicited commentary on personal relationships, especially when it involves public figures and women. The incident underscores the tensions that arise when private lives intersect with public discourse, and the responsibility that commentators may—or may not—bear when making remarks about family and marriage.
