
After her controversial loss at the US Open Saturday (Sept. 8), musicians and celebrities have taken to social media to voice their support for Serena Williams.
Williams received a warning from the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, after her coach was allegedly seen making hand signals, which is a code violation. Williams told Ramos her coach was simply giving her a thumbs-up and demanded an apology, telling him, “I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter, and I stand for what’s right for her. I don’t cheat to win. I’d rather lose.”
She later called Ramos a “thief” and received a game penalty — which, as many fans on Twitter pointed out, is an extreme punishment for behavior her male peers frequently get away with.
Kelly Rowland, Flea, Queen Latifah, Queer Eye‘s Jonathan Van Ness and plenty of other celebrities weighed in on the match.
Check out their reactions below.
that was fucking intense. kudos to @Naomi_Osaka_ and all the land of the rising sun she was fierce
— Flea (@flea333) September 8, 2018
The deep congrats to Naomi Osaka. But that was bullshit how the ref came down on Serena taking points. Bullshit.
— Flea (@flea333) September 8, 2018
@serenawilliams We to handle a bad call with class and dignity and great sportsmanship! #playfair and Congrats @Naomi_Osaka_ when your first grand slam and congrats to your parents!
— Queen Latifah (@IAMQUEENLATIFAH) September 8, 2018
Cool @usopen that umpire should be FIRED! A game penalty?? Get out – Serena is queen forever
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) September 8, 2018
To me Osaka was given that tournament, very unfair call.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) September 8, 2018
I know Osaka outplayed Serena but I’m such a Serena stan, yay for Osaka but again those calls definitely influenced that match, but yay for Osaka and Serena’s never ending class & grace.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) September 8, 2018
So incredible and such an honor to watch @serenawilliams play tonight at the @usopen. Even more than her athleticism, her character shined so bright. A role model for everyone ?? pic.twitter.com/ukwrbiZljF
— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) September 8, 2018
The hypocrisy of the umpire to penalize @serenawilliams in a sport that celebrated the antics of John McEnroe and Ilie Nastace is a blatant display of sexism #usopen
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) September 8, 2018
All praise to both —-s @serenawilliams the best athlete the world has ever seen & @Naomi_Osaka_ demonstrating #BlackGirlMagic & fierce determination. Very proud. Tears watching the hug ——–
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 8, 2018
Love these women. @naomiosakatennis breaking grounds for Japanese women and men in the sport. BRAVO you played an incredible match. @serenawilliams BRAVO for speaking out about the unfair treatment of women vs men in the game of tennis. As her coach Patick said, it’s TIME to pic.twitter.com/A4KySiiyZP
— Beth Behrs (@BethBehrs) September 8, 2018
change this unfair treatment of women, it’s #notokay . @usta @wta @usopen what can we do about this? Time for change is now. A women should be able to change her shirt just like a man if she’s sweat through it. A women should be able to express -not suppress -her emotional life pic.twitter.com/7gy8gKM2yx
— Beth Behrs (@BethBehrs) September 8, 2018
What hasn’t changed is the way @SerenaWilliams had been policed and disrespected since the moment she stepped on the court as a kid decorated with beaded braids. #USOpen
— Anika Noni Rose (@AnikaNoniRose) September 8, 2018
My heart goes out to Serena. A player of her caliber being treated like this more than 20 years in her career as a champion. My goodness.
— roxane gay (@rgay) September 8, 2018
Tennis applies the rules inconsistently. This is not up for debate. Serena is penalized for things the men do and that white players so. She is drug tested far more frequently. There are two sets of rules and it’s obscene.
— roxane gay (@rgay) September 8, 2018
.@Naomi_Osaka_, congratulations on your #UsOpenFinal win. @serenawilliams, you inspire me always. No less so today. Thank you.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) September 8, 2018
Two queens stepped onto that court to win today. Two queens step off the court to play another day. Majesty from end to end. Even in the rough patches. Brava to both. And congratulations to @Naomi_Osaka_ for claiming your place in history. pic.twitter.com/s8jJZmIl78
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) September 8, 2018
That was the craziest shit I’ve ever seen. The umpire was out of his mind, @serenawilliams had the momentum on her side and was right to speak up. That being said @Naomi_Osaka_ is a champion, played like a champion and is the future of tennis —— @usopen
— Kevin McHale (@druidDUDE) September 8, 2018
Dear @usopen, you just cheated Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka & all tennis fans. Bet your umpire wouldn’t pull that shit with Federer or Nadal.
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) September 8, 2018
Ive watched tennis for many many years and I’ve never seen anything like this ever! @serenawilliams is right the men do way worse than the women and she was penalize for this today? SMDH —- https://t.co/5vJ6RNs6Ui via @ESPN App https://t.co/9HxfoZVv5I
— Vivica A. Fox (@MsVivicaFox) September 8, 2018
By the way ?@serenawilliams? doesn’t need coaching in the middle of a match she’s a class act always on to the next championship #24 next pic.twitter.com/240sQGJZb3
— Sandra Bernhard (@SandraBernhard) September 8, 2018
Such class and leadership in your speech, @serenawilliams, and congratulations to @Naomi_Osaka_ on your historic win. In this case there really were good people on both sides. #usopenfinal
— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) September 8, 2018
Serena is right. I was there. And worse, he was baiting her. https://t.co/CinW6AJJNo
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) September 8, 2018