Paris restaurant claps back at Serena Williams after entry refusal complaint

Serena Williams clashed with a Paris restaurant after being denied entry sparking a debate on celebrity treatment and entitlement.

Serena Williams has found herself in a public spat with a high-profile Paris restaurant after she aired her grievances on social media about being denied entry.

The controversy unfolded when Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, voiced her frustration on X about not being allowed to dine at The Peninsula Hotel's rooftop restaurant, despite it appearing empty.

According to Williams, her attempt to eat at the establishment with her children was thwarted when they were turned away because, she was told, the restaurant was fully booked.

She posted a photo of the luxury hotel alongside a message expressing her dissatisfaction, stating, "Yikes, @peninsulaparis I've been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first."

However, the restaurant quickly responded, clarifying the situation on the same platform just two hours after Williams' complaint.

The Peninsula team explained, "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."

They added, "Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight ... We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again. The Peninsula Paris."

The clash has sparked a flurry of reactions from fans and social media users. as per Daily Mail.

While many rushed to defend Williams, citing her celebrity status as a reason she should have been accommodated, others criticized her for what they described as an entitled attitude.

One user remarked, "Wait are we really telling this place that because she’s a celebrity they should have figured it out? No. If they’re booked, they’re booked and it’s entitled as heck to be upset that they didn’t figure it out because 'I’m special.'"

Others echoed this sentiment, highlighting the issues of privilege.

"I love the people in here saying she deserved special treatment and should have gotten a table in a place that was fully booked. Jesus Christ, talk about privilege, lol," another commented.

Another user pointed out the challenges of finding space during peak times, "There is literally nothing more entitled than walking into @peninsulaparis during tourist and the Olympics, expecting a table to be ready for you."

Despite the backlash, some of Williams' supporters maintained that the restaurant could have made an exception.

Comments such as "It's Serena Williams - you make a table for her!" and "Glad you didn't have to waste money there," surfaced, showing a divide in public opinion.

Williams, who is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist, has been in Paris attending the Olympics with her daughter, Olympia, and other family members.

She was part of several high-profile attendees at the Games' opening ceremony on July 26 sharing moments with other sports legends like Rafael Nadal and Carl Lewis.