Paris, the iconic host city of the Olympic Games 2024is full of sports stars, both present and past. Among these figures is the legendary former tennis player Serena Williamswho, although retired from professional sport since 2022, continues to set trends. However, her recent visit to an exclusive Parisian restaurant was not entirely pleasant, as she was denied access. In the face of the controversy, An employee of the place explained the reasons behind this incident.
What happened to Serena Williams in Paris?
The former tennis player experienced a moment of disappointment when she decided to go out to eat with her family, along with her two children, at one of the most emblematic establishments in Paris. Through the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), she made her statement, which started a tense debate.
“What a Peninsula Paris. I have been denied access to the rooftop to eat in a restaurant empty of nicer places, but never with my children. There is always a first time,” she revealed. This comment quickly generated an avalanche of reactions on social media.many of whom criticized the establishment.
Serena Williams claims she was not allowed into a restaurant in Paris while she was with her two children
The Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel known for its view of the Eiffel Tower and his gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, was quick to respond to Williams’ complaints. In his message, The hotel apologized for the situation and explained that the rooftop bar was completely full. and the free tables she saw belonged to the restaurant, which was fully booked. “It has always been an honor to receive you and it will always be an honor to receive you again,” concluded the hotel’s response in X.
Peninsula Paris employee’s statement
To shed light on what happened, Maxime Mannevy, an employee at the restaurant, shared exclusive details with the magazine VarietyAccording to Mannevy, although he was not present during the incident, his colleague did not recognize the famous athlete when she arrived at the establishment.
The Peninsula Paris is a luxurious five-star hotel that has a restaurant that has one of the most privileged views of the Eiffel Tower
The former tennis player was accompanied by another woman and a baby stroller, so the employee assumed he could not recognize her. He also assured that his partner acted according to standard protocol and asked Williams to wait at the bar until a table became available.
“When he arrived, there were only two tables available, and they had been reserved by hotel guests,” he explained.My partner didn’t recognize her and felt very bad.but he told him what he would have told any other customer, to wait downstairs at the bar until a table was free. It was nothing personal,” he concluded.
Serena Williams was one of those in charge of carrying the torch to kick off the Paris 2024 Olympics
Reactions on social media
The message of Serena Williams on social media it did not go unnoticedwhich garnered over seven thousand comments. Reactions from her followers were mixed. Some expressed their support and found it unacceptable that the restaurant did not make room for a figure of her caliber. Others, however, argued that celebrities should not receive preferential treatment at a restaurant that was fully booked.
Despite this incident, the multiple tennis winner has enjoyed her time in Paris. As One of the torchbearers during the opening ceremony of the Olympic GamesWilliams has shown her continued support for the world of sport. She also appeared in the stands cheering on American gymnastics star Simone Biles at competitions.
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