Update: Employee At Paris Restaurant Says Workers Didn’t Know Who Serena Williams Was When They Turned Her Away, Claims She Looked ‘Unrecognizable’

Serena Williams

Update: Employee At Paris Restaurant Says Workers Didn’t Know Who Serena Williams Was When They Turned Her Away, Claims She Looked ‘Unrecognizable’

Update (Aug. 7, 2024): A restaurant in Paris has more to say after Serena Williams called out the eatery for turning her away amid the 2024 Olympics.

Maxime Mannevy, who works at the Peninsula said that Serena Williams walked into the rooftop restaurant with another woman and a stroller in tow. The worker claimed that Serena Williams looked “unrecognizable,” adding,

“When she came there were only two tables available and they had been reserved by clients of the hotel. My colleague didn’t recognize her and feels terrible, but he told her what he would have told any other client, which is to wait downstairs in the bar for a table to become available. That was absolutely nothing personal.”

Original Story (Aug. 6, 2024): Serena Williams didn’t have the best experience with a restaurant in Paris. The tennis all-star, who has been in the city for the 2024 Olympics, called out The Peninsula Paris after the luxe eatery turned her away, with her daughters present.

Serena Williams

She wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday (Aug. 5),

“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places ? but never with my kids. Always a first. ?#Olympic2024”

Serena Williams shares daughters Olympia, 6, and Adira, 11 months, with husband Alexis Ohanian. 

Serena Williams and daughter Olympia

The restaurant promptly replied and explained to Serena Williams why she wasn’t allowed entry.

It began with,

“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.”

It later added,

“We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again. The Peninsula Paris”

As of now, it doesn’t look like she’s replied.

Do you think Serena Williams should have been let into the restaurant? Comment and let us know!

[VIA]