Serena Williams Responds to Skin Bleaching Rumors [Video]

Throughout the years, 23-time Grand Slam tennis legend Serena Williams has been hit with a slew of criticism. Typically, the 43-year-old tends to keep quiet and strays away from addressing certain topics. However, she is not letting the skin-bleaching rumors slide.

During a recent Instagram Live session, Williams directly addressed the allegations while showing off her makeup routine using products from her beauty brand, Wyn Beauty.

“And then I put just that neutral color, that is actually my skin color, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” she said.

The rumors began circulating following a recent viral video of Williams attending a school function with her daughters and husband, Alexis Ohanian. Once the clip hit the internet, many social media users accused Williams of altering her complexion despite her visibly wearing “stage makeup.”

“There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors,” Williams explained during the Instagram Live. “Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous. I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look.”

Additionally, while standing firm in her decision, Williams was careful not to offend those who chose to participate in skin-bleaching.

“And if people do it, that’s their thing, and they have every opportunity and they should. I don’t judge, but you guys do,” she said. “But that’s what this world is about, and I stay in my lane — the non-judgy one, and I keep it. But no, I actually don’t bleach my skin, so can we just kinda clear that up?”

Nonetheless, Williams has always been open and transparent about her cosmetic work. Back in June, she shared an Instagram video of a radio frequency treatment that she underwent to tighten her stomach following her pregnancy.

“Being ok to take time for myself is something I have always struggled with,” she captioned the post. “I finally started started being ok to take an hour (during nap time) away from my kids and work to do something for myself.”