Serena Williams Gives SIDE EYE To Cotton Décor At NYC Luxury Hotel … “It Doesn’t Feel Great”
Tennis icon Serena Williams may be one of the fiercest athletes alive, but even she admits certain things can make her skin crawl — and one of those things is … cotton.
The 43-year-old legend is in New York City ahead of the much-hyped Nike x SKIMS “Bodies At Work” launch event. But instead of just posting about fashion week vibes and luxury suites, Serena took to her Instagram Stories to call out a detail in her hotel décor that hit a little too close to home.
Serena’s Uncomfortable Encounter
While filming herself walking down the hallway toward the elevator of the undisclosed five-star property, Serena panned her camera toward a decorative vase holding cotton stalks.
“Alright, everyone,” she asked her followers. “How do we feel about cotton as decoration? Personally for me, it doesn’t feel great.”
She then visibly shuddered and walked away — making it clear that she wasn’t here for it.
A Triggering History
In a follow-up clip, Serena plucked a cotton boll from the stem and rubbed it against her nail, cringing as she explained it felt like “nail polish remover cotton … unnatural.”
But fans immediately picked up on the deeper meaning. Cotton isn’t just another plant in a vase. For many Black Americans, it carries heavy historical baggage — tied to slavery, forced labor, and racial trauma.
Serena didn’t outright accuse the hotel of being racist, but the implication was strong enough for people to connect the dots.
Fans React Online
Social media lit up after Serena’s Stories. Some fans praised her for subtly highlighting the uncomfortable symbolism of cotton-as-décor, while others debated whether it was “just an aesthetic choice.”
“Hotels really need to think harder about décor. Cotton ain’t it,” one user wrote.
Another clapped back: “It’s just a plant, y’all. Don’t make everything deep.”
Still, many followers supported Serena, saying her discomfort was valid given cotton’s violent legacy.
Serena Keeps It Classy
What stood out most was how Serena handled it. She never named the hotel, never cursed them out, and didn’t go on a rant. Instead, she framed it as a personal reaction — letting fans draw their own conclusions.
It’s peak Serena: unbothered, graceful, but still unafraid to share a moment of truth with her fans.