The internet is at again, having a ball with comments made by a British sports reporter after seeing tennis legend Serena Williams walk the red carpet ahead of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris on July 26.
Serena stunned in a body-con Dolce & Gabbana red midi dress with a matching handbag. The only problem was the weather. It rained most of the evening leaving many of the athletes soaked during the parade of nations down the Seine River. But according to Page Six, reporter Laura Woods couldn’t help but notice that Williams had a companion walking with her making sure she stayed dry.
“[Williams] looks absolutely incredible. She’s got someone just behind us holding an umbrella,” Woods said. “Those are the levels you aspire to. To have an actual umbrella holder behind you.”
But what Woods didn’t know is that Williams’ “umbrella holder” was actually her husband Alexis Ohanian, father of her two children and co-founder of Reddit. I mean, it is a honest mistake. She’s won 23 Grand Slam women’s singles titles, has her own venture capital firm and had an award-winning film made about her epic rise to stardom – and he’s an internet entrepreneur (no shade).
While lots of people gave Ohanian props for keeping his wife covered during the rain, calling him a gentleman, most folks online saw holding an umbrella for your wife as just something that comes with the job.
“Having an umbrella holder is the 97th reason to get married,” wrote one person on X.
“His job description has officially been revised,” wrote another.
But the Reddit co-founder didn’t let any of the social media chatter bother him. In fact, he actually leaned into his new role, posting a photo of him covering Serena and the couple’s six-year-old daughter with the caption, “I’m also Olympia’s personal umbrella holder,” on X on July 27.
“Y’all set the bar too low for me. Celeb dads get flowers just for *acknowledging* they have kids,” he added on July 28.