Paris restaurant snaps back at Serena Williams after tennis legend was 'denied access'

Paris restaurant snaps back at Serena Williams after tennis legend was ‘denied access’

Posted by Admin August 6, 2024 Tennis

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A top Parisian restaurant has issued a stanch response to Serena Williams online after the tennis legend claimed she was ‘denied access’ to their rooftop restaurant.

Williams has been in Paris since the start of the Olympics where she was a part of the opening ceremony on July 26.

She’s been spotted attending several Olympic disciplines including gymnastics and swimming.

But it’s not all been fun and games for the 23-time Grand Slam champion, who took to social media to complain about the treatment she received at the Peninsula Paris.

Serena Williams claims she was denied access

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Williams wrote: “@Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer planes but never with my kids. Always a first.”

But the five-star hotel snapped back at the tennis legend just hours later on social media, insisting they were fully booked.

Their reply read: “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.

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

One of the staff for Peninsula’s rooftop restaurant told Variety magazine that Williams was ‘unrecognisable’ and that the person who turned her away ‘feels terrible’.

They told the magazine: “When she came there were only two tables available and they had been reserved by clients of the hotel.

The hotel has since issued a response to Serena Williams

GETTY

“My colleague didn’t recognise 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.”

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Serena Williams has been in Paris since the start of the Olympics

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The exchange on social media caused a stir on social media with fans mixed on who was in the wrong.

One message read: “Who doesn’t make room for a queen?”

Another posted: “This is disgusting!”

A third took aim at Williams, writing: “Make a reservation next time. You’re special on the tennis court, not in restaurants.”