Serena Williams took center stage at the ESPYs on Thursday night (July 11), delivering a performance laced with humor and subtle jabs. The tennis legend, who once dated rapper Drake, didn’t shy away from referencing their past or the recent drama surrounding him and Kendrick Lamar.
Williams, resplendent in a floor-length black dress, quipped, “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us—not even me—should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.”
The crowd at the ESPYs roared with laughter as she delivered this line, alluding to Lamar’s recent takedowns in his music. The 23-time Grand Slam champion continued with her playful banter, hinting at Drake’s potential future woes.
“He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re gonna Forrest Gump him,” she said, mimicking the famous “seat’s taken” line from the 1994 film.
Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” a track with sharp lyrics aimed at Drake, also mentions Williams. “I’m glad DeRoz came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither/From Alondra down to Central, n***a better not speak on Serena,” Lamar raps, defending fellow Compton natives..
Before the ESPYs, Williams praised the song during her appearance at the Essence Festival. She called the diss track the “hit of the summer.”
“When they play that jam, I’m jamming. That jam is jamming. … You definitely Crip walking in that song. It’s so cool what he did though. Bringing everyone to the stage? That was incredible,” she told the audience.
Williams and Drake have been feuding for years since their relationship and break-up went public in 2012. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, joined the fray with a series of tweets.
In November 2022, Ohanian clapped back at Drake’s attempt to diminish him as a “groupie,” and more recently, he shared a clip juxtaposing Kendrick’s performance with Kobe Bryant’s taunting words: “I’m going to beat you. I’m going to let you know I beat you. And I’m gonna want you to reconsider your professional life choice.”
“Not Like Us” success is undeniable, having topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks and currently sitting at No. 3. The song’s music video has gathered over 44 million views on YouTube in less than a week. Meanwhile, Kendrick’s earlier track “Like That,” featuring Metro Boomin and Future, remains strong at No. 14 after months on the chart.