Serena Williams was made uncomfortable this week as she exited her New York City hotel due to a piece of decor known to be triggering for some.
The tennis champ, 44, shared video via her Instagram Stories Thursday (Sept. 25) of her walking down her hotel hallway toward a decorative cotton plant, leading her to question how her followers feel about it as she visibly shuddered at the sight. This is due to the cotton plant’s association with transatlantic slave labor.
“Alright, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?” she asked fans. “Personally for me, it doesn’t feel great.” She also picked a single ball of cotton off of a branch, telling followers that it “feels like nail polish remover cotton,” before shuddering and walking away.
The athlete was in New York City to support friend Kim Kardashian at a lavish dinner celebrating the launch of NikeSKIMS. Other guests included Teyana Taylor, Latto, Travis Scott, Gayle Mitchell, and Martha Stewart.
“Our mission is clear: to redefine women’s activewear without compromise,” Kim K said of the collaboration. “This collection brings together cutting-edge performance with bold, style-forward design, empowering athletes — from elite competitors to everyday gym enthusiasts — to move effortlessly and conquer their goals with confidence.”
Jet-setter Williams also turned heads just one day prior in Italy, as she walked in the Gucci runway show as a part of Spring/Summer 2026 Milan Fashion Week. Check out images below.
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