Alexis Ohanian Claps Back at Stephen A. Smith & Jason Whitlock Over Wife Serena Williams’ Super Bowl Crip Walk

Alexis Ohanian is responding to Stephen A. Smith’s criticism of his wife, Serena Williams, over her crip walk during the Super Bowl Halftime Show earlier this week.

On ESPN’s First Take,Smith made it clear: If his wife was “trolling” her ex, he wouldn’t stand for it. “If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his a**,” Smith said. “What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”

This all happened during Kendrick Lamar’s performance of “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake, with whom Serena has been rumored to have dated in the past.

Alexis took to X to respond, in a lengthy thread where he explained the real meaning behind Serena’s dance. “I got you @stephenasmith,” Alexis tweeted. “Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows…. This is bigger than the music,” calling out the critics who missed the point.

I got you @stephenasmith https://t.co/hkTBRPvuzG

— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 11, 2025

In his thread, Alexis also pointed out how many dances have controversial origins, just like the crip walk.

“Just wait until some of these folks learn about the illicit/criminal origins of Irish step-dancing or Northern English clog dancing! They’ll be APPALLED I tell you. OUTRAGED, even,” he stated .

Things took a turn when Jason Whitlock jumped into the thread, calling Alexis a “beta” and mocking him for defending Serena. “This is Serena’s husband, a true beta. He’s mad at me rather than the wife Crip walking and still thinking about Drake. Simp.”

In a savage response, Alexis went straight for Whitlock: “I get it—you’re 57, and life didn’t turn out the way you imagined. That kind of disappointment must be exhausting,” he wrote. “You’re the embodiment of peaked in high school, spending decades chasing validation from strangers through Likes and Digital Hugs, only to find that no amount of external approval fills the void. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

The Reddit creator added, “This is a lonely road. There’s still time to rewrite the ending—start by working on yourself first. You’ll find that if you wake up every morning trying to be a little better, a little more curious, you won’t have time for irrational hating—you’ll be too busy winning.”

The whole exchange showed just how far Alexis will go to defend Serena and how seriously he takes his role as a supportive husband.

Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago and it shows…. This is bigger than the music. pic.twitter.com/Xq4O96Yg0s

— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 11, 2025

Meanwhile, these are your 2025 Super Bowl Champions. Let ’em dance. pic.twitter.com/PEpFtOCdxw

— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 11, 2025

This is Serena’s husband, a true beta. He’s mad at me rather than the wife Crip walking and still thinking about Drake. Simp. https://t.co/CqxZvvNAJH

— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) February 11, 2025

I get it—you’re 57, and life didn’t turn out the way you imagined. That kind of disappointment must be exhausting. You’re the embodiment of peaked in high school, spending decades chasing validation from strangers through Likes and Digital Hugs, only to find that no amount of…

— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 11, 2025