Stephen A. Smith has been a trending topic on social media following Super Bowl LIX after he made interesting comments about Serena Williams on the ESPN sports show “First Take.”

On social media, fans are blasting the TV personality for his choice of words about Serena Williams and her decision to dance during the NFL’s big game on February 9, 2025.

Smith Would’ve Told Serena Williams To Hit The Door

During the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, tennis legend Williams appeared alongside Kendrick Lamar during his chart-topping diss track about Drake, “Not Like Us.”

The tennis champion could be seen in a blue outfit with blonde curly hair doing the “crip walk” to the song.

While discussing the show and Lamar’s surprise guests, including singer SZA and Williams, Smith shared how he would’ve felt had he seen Williams dancing on stage if they were in a relationship.

“If I’m your husband, I’m thinking, ‘Why are you up there trolling him—trolling your ex?’” Smith asked his colleagues, including Shannon Sharpe. “If I’m married, and my wife is going to troll her ex—go back to his -ss. Because clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for—and you with me?”

“Bye. Bye,” he finished.

Serena Williams And Drake Sparked Romance Rumors In The Past

One reason Williams’ appearance during this year’s Super Bowl halftime show has been a trending topic is her previous flirtatious relationship with Drake.

The pair sparked dating rumors in 2011, and throughout the years, Drake name-dropped the athlete in a couple of songs, including “Worst Behavior.”

He’s also credited Williams with inspiring his 2015 Meek Mill diss track, “Back to Back.”

After Williams married Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2017, Drake slammed him in a song, calling him a “groupie.”

Fans Respond To Smith’s Comments About Williams

Once the clip of Smith speaking about Williams and her dancing on stage during Super Bowl LIX was posted online, fans dragged the sports analyst for discussing things he couldn’t relate to.

“Quick reminder: Stephen A. Smith works over 320 days a year and is unable to experience his wife trolling her ex because he does not currently possess a wife,” one user wrote.

Someone else clearly agreed, writing that Smith believing he’d “even have the opportunity to marry someone like her in the first place is HILARIOUS.”

A third user also shared their thoughts and asked why Smith was “in a married woman’s business.”

Williams’ Husband Responds To Her Super Bowl Appearance

On X, Williams’ husband, Ohanian, shared his thoughts about his wife’s appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show.

“Some of y’all have no idea how criticized Serena was for this same dance at Wimbledon 13 years ago, and it shows,” he wrote. “This is bigger than the music.”

For those who may be unfamiliar, Ohanian is referring to the pushback Williams received after doing the crip walk at Wimbledon during the 2012 Olympics in London.

A fan replied to Ohanian, telling him and his wife to ignore the haters before reminding him that Williams, whom many regard as the greatest tennis player of all time, inspires many people.

“No other choice,” he replied.

Williams also addressed the special moment on Instagram, praising Lamar for inviting her to show off her “winning dance” in front of millions of football fans.

Williams Shows Love To Taylor Swift

Aside from her dance during the halftime show, Williams also made headlines after she showered pop singer Taylor Swift with love following an embarrassing moment inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

During the game, the camera operator flashed the camera to several big celebrities in the audience, briefly showing them on the stadium’s jumbotron.

When the camera landed on Swift, the crowd shared loud boos, prompting the singer to share a confused look before asking, “What is going on?”

Williams defended the singer online, telling her not to hang her head in response to the crowd’s reaction.

“I love you,” Williams wrote. “Don’t listen to those [boos]!”

Williams Made The Swifties Proud

Williams standing up for Swift made several of the “Cruel Summer” singer’s fans extremely proud.

Online, the singer’s fanbase, known as the “Swifties,” showed love to the Grand Slam champion for protecting their favorite artist of all time.

“And this is why you’re a QUEEN,” one user wrote.

“Aww, my favorite singer and favorite athlete,” another shared.