Tennis superstar Serena Williams just tweeted that she and her kids were turned down at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, that had empty tables and it’s causing quite a stir on social media.
Serena Williams posted: “Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in a empty restaurant of nicer places 🫠 but never with my kids. Always a first. 🙄#Olympic2024”
Her tweet was somewhat cryptic but many online are suggesting the incident was race-related and it’s not clear if that’s what Serena was alluding to, as well. However, the Peninsula Paris was quick to respond to her tweet with: “Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight. 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.” Both tweets are embedded below.
Dear Mrs. Williams,
Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight.
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.— The Peninsula Paris (@peninsulaparis) August 5, 2024
Personally, I think it’s just a misunderstanding, perhaps with a dash of Parisian attitude, which the locals are famous for (not the French people as a whole because out in the suburbs, they’re warm and welcoming).
However, it seems like Serena didn’t ask about the empty tables she saw and/or the host didn’t offer the gourmet restaurant as an alternative. If Serena was just looking to get food for her kids, then I would think they would have been happy with the alternative restaurant.
I’ve been to restaurants before where something similar has happened, like this incident at the Duke’s in Malibu. In fact, it also happened to me the other night, but I was able to talk our way in when I explained, “I have two little kids and we’re going to be quick!” The hostess agreed and we were quick as promised so the restaurant was able to turn the tables around fast, which is the goal of most restaurant owners.
Users on social media had mixed feelings. Here are some of the tweets:
@AlexNever347: You were denied access because they were serving prejudice. Shame on them.
@Mo_Magoda: It doesn’t matter how much money you have. Racism doesn’t care bro 🤣
@Relatifise: I have seen first hand that black Africans regularly get denied access to rooftops in Paris. @serenawilliams, in Paris they have some of the best African cuisine in the world. You should definitely try a few.
@PartiGoy: The rules apply to everyone
@Howellsacto: Serena starring in “Crazy Rich African-Americans”
@kemikins: Elitist whines because elite restaurant and bar are fully booked. So sad.
Who do you think is at fault here? The hotel, the maître d or Serena? One takeaway is that in Paris and other popular tourist destinations, you really need to have reservations, so it’s best to plan in advance.
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What was not revealed by her post was that the tables were already reserved. Welcome to the real world, Serena.
Somebody didn’t know who she was… they missed a chance to get a good review of their restaurant. AND, yes, reserve your table, not just in Paris, not just in France. We almost always reserve. Now if all you do is fast food, well shame on you! Smiling. Reserve in France.
I’m sorry for Serena, but where she may be used to “special” treatment because of who she is, most of us are denied tables when we don’t have a reservation. More likely, we don’t even try to bring our children to posh restaurants, rather going where they can be served very quickly. Sorry Serena, but no sympathy here.