Photo: Getty Images North America
Alexis Ohanian is pushing back against online critics who accused his wife, tennis legend Serena Williams, of lightening her skin to appear “more white.”
Ohanian's comments came after Williams took to social media to share family photos of her husband and their two daughters.
“Joy does not always roar sometimes it whispers… I love this picture so I wanted to share it with you," Williams captioned the family photos.
Soon after Williams shared the photos, critics resurfaced long-standing accusations about Williams’ appearance, accusing her of lightening her skin. Ohanian, the Reddit cofounder, publicly addressed the comments by quoting the post and writing, “Where are all the comments from idiots who don’t understand how photography lighting works.”
When one social media user responded by accusing Ohanian of dismissing Black people’s understanding of lighting versus skin lightening, the Reddit cofounder doubled down, explaining that photos taken at the same event can appear different due to lighting conditions.
Williams has previously addressed similar claims, saying during an Instagram Live in 2024, “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”
Ohanian’s defense of Williams was widely praised across social media.
"Y’all look great. Ignore the haters. They are just jealous!" one social media user wrote.
“That man love his wife! Stop playing with him,” another person said.
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