The Viral Dance: Why Serena Williams' 'Crip Walk' At The Super Bowl Caused A Fresh Controversy

Serena Williams, a global icon and arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, once again found herself at the center of a swirling cultural debate after performing the "Crip Walk" dance during a high-profile public appearance. While the original controversy stemmed from her celebratory dance after winning the 2012 London Olympics gold medal, the discussion was reignited with a fresh, viral intensity in early 2024 during the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, where she made a surprise cameo alongside rapper Kendrick Lamar. This latest incident, which occurred on the world’s biggest stage, brought the complex history of the C-Walk—a dance rooted in West Coast gang culture—back into the mainstream spotlight, forcing a new conversation about celebration, cultural appropriation, and the evolution of street dance.

As of December 10, 2025, the debate continues to evolve, with fans and critics dissecting the deeper meaning of Williams' choice of celebration. The context of her performance—dancing to Kendrick Lamar's viral diss track "Not Like Us"—added layers of complexity, transforming a simple celebratory jig into a loaded cultural and even personal statement that captivated millions and sparked a firestorm across social media and sports commentary alike. This article dives deep into the two major instances of the Serena Crip Walk, exploring the history of the dance, the intense public reaction, and Williams' own perspective on the enduring controversy.

Serena Jameka Williams: A Biographical Profile and Career Overview

Serena Jameka Williams is an American former professional tennis player who has revolutionized women's tennis with her powerful serve, athleticism, and mental fortitude. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Her career is marked by unprecedented success and cultural impact.

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• Full Name: Serena Jameka Williams
• Born: September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
• Residence: Jupiter, Florida, U.S.
• Spouse: Alexis Ohanian (married 2017)
• Children: Two daughters, Olympia and Adira River
• Professional Career: 1995–2022
• Grand Slam Singles Titles: 23 (Open Era record)
• Grand Slam Doubles Titles: 14 (with sister Venus Williams)
• Olympic Medals: 4 Gold (1 Singles, 3 Doubles)
• World No. 1 Ranking: Held the No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks, including a joint-record 186 consecutive weeks.
• Career Earnings: Over $94 million in prize money, the highest of any female athlete in history.
• Cultural Impact: Known for breaking barriers, advocating for gender and racial equality, and her ventures in business and fashion.

The Genesis of the Controversy: London 2012 Olympics

The original "Serena Crip Walk" moment occurred during the 2012 London Olympics. After achieving a historic feat by defeating her rival Maria Sharapova in a dominant performance to win the gold medal in women's singles, Williams celebrated with a distinctive, rapid footwork routine on the court.

A Celebratory Jig or a Gang Reference?

The dance, characterized by intricate heel-to-toe movements and shuffles, was immediately recognized by many as the Crip Walk, or C-Walk. The Crip Walk dance style originated in the 1970s and 1980s among members of the Crip gang in South Central Los Angeles, initially as a way to spell out the letters "C-R-I-P" and later as a symbolic representation of their identity and territory.

The dance's association with gang culture, violence, and the Bloods-Crips rivalry immediately sparked a heated debate. Critics, including some sports journalists like Bill Plaschke of the LA Times, questioned the appropriateness of performing a dance with such a dark history on a global, professional stage like the Olympics. The core of the criticism centered on the idea that an athlete of Williams' stature should not promote a dance linked to gang violence and death, suggesting her actions showed a disconnect from the gravity of the dance's origins.

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However, many others defended Williams, arguing that the Crip Walk had long transcended its roots to become a generalized, popular street dance, especially within the West Coast hip-hop culture. They viewed the backlash as an overreaction, or even a racially charged critique aimed at dampening the authentic joy of a Black athlete celebrating a historic victory. Williams herself later dismissed the dance as a simple "celebratory jig," though she acknowledged its cultural significance.

The Latest Firestorm: Super Bowl LVIII and the 'Not Like Us' Cameo

The "Serena Crip Walk" debate was dramatically reignited in early 2024 during the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show. The tennis star made a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar's performance of his explosive, Grammy-winning diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake, titled "Not Like Us."

A Loaded Performance with Multiple Layers

As Lamar performed the West Coast anthem, Williams appeared on stage and broke out into the familiar, rapid footwork of the C-Walk. This moment was instantly dissected by millions for several reasons:

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• The Song's Context: "Not Like Us" is a highly charged track in the hip-hop world, essentially a declaration of West Coast solidarity against Drake, who is often associated with the East Coast/Toronto scene. Williams' participation was seen as a powerful endorsement of Lamar's message and a nod to West Coast culture.
• The Drake Connection: The most viral speculation, which Williams later addressed, was that her dance was a "petty" jab at her ex-boyfriend, Drake. Rumors of a past relationship between Williams and Drake have long circulated, and the timing of her Crip Walk during a Drake diss track was interpreted by some as a deliberate personal attack.
• Williams' Response: In a subsequent interview, Williams firmly denied that the dance was directed at Drake, saying, "Absolutely not." She revealed that she was "tipsy" at the time and simply caught up in the energy of the performance. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, also publicly clapped back at critics, defending his wife's spontaneous moment of joy.

This Super Bowl appearance once again highlighted the tension between cultural celebration and controversial origins. By performing the C-Walk in a highly public, pop-culture context, Williams demonstrated how the dance has evolved from a specific gang signifier to a broader expression of Black and West Coast cultural pride. The moment was a perfect storm of sports celebrity, hip-hop beef, and dance history, generating massive topical authority and search interest around the Crip Walk itself.

The Cultural Evolution of the C-Walk and Serena's Impact

The repeated instances of the "Serena Crip Walk" have inadvertently served as a case study in the cultural evolution of street dance. While the dance's history is undeniably tied to the Crips and the tragic reality of gang life, its appearance in music videos, films, and now on global stages like the Olympics and the Super Bowl, shows its transition into a mainstream dance phenomenon.

The argument for the dance's current neutrality rests on the concept of cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation. For supporters, Williams is simply a Black woman from Compton (near Los Angeles) who grew up immersed in the culture that created the C-Walk, and her performance is a genuine expression of that heritage. They argue that a dance, once it enters the public domain through media and music, loses its original, specific gang affiliation and becomes a part of a wider cultural vocabulary, similar to other dance styles that originated in marginalized communities.

However, critics maintain that dismissing the gang roots of the C-Walk—and the ongoing violence associated with it—is a form of historical erasure. They argue that while Williams may intend it as a joyful celebration, the public performance of the C-Walk by a global figure risks sanitizing its origins and disrespecting the victims of gang violence. This powerful duality—the dance as a symbol of both destructive gang rivalry and vibrant Black cultural expression—is what makes the "Serena Crip Walk" an enduring and complex topic of discussion.

Ultimately, whether viewed as a spontaneous act of tipsy celebration, a calculated nod to West Coast hip-hop, or a controversial use of a gang-related dance, Serena Williams’ performance of the Crip Walk remains one of the most memorable and debated moments in modern sports and pop culture history. It stands as a testament to her willingness to be unapologetically herself, even when it sparks a global conversation.