Serena Williams has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, facing criticism over her appearance in a recent video.

However, tennis fans rushed to rally around the 23-time Grand Slam champion, pushing back against the relentless judgment of her looks.

Williams has been open about how the constant media focus on her weight and appearance during her playing days significantly affected her self- image. Unfortunately, the criticism has followed the 43-year-old even into retirement, with her latest look drawing backlash.

Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian recently volunteered to take part in their daughter Olympia’s ballet production of The Nutcracker.

After their performance, the former World No. I shared a clip of herself and Ohanian looking visibly exhausted and disheveled from the experience.

However, the clip became the subject of controversy after a user took aim at Williams “crazy” appearance.

“Nah what is going on with Serena? This is crazy man,” a user posted.

Some users took it further, claiming that the 23-time Grand Slam champion had “bleached” her skin to make it look lighter, with many even calling her a “white woman.”

“That bleach getting through the skin and into the bloodstream eventually whitewashing her mind,” a user posted.

However, fans were quick to condemn these remarks, calling out the relentless “bullying” Serena Williams had faced over her looks since she was a teenager. They urged the haters to leave the former World No. 1 alone after constantly condemning her appearance as “ugly and manly.”

“Y’all called her a ugly manly monkey for 20 years lol just leave her alone,” one fan posted.

“Y’all have been bullying her for her looks since she was 15 stop pretending you are concerned,” another fan chimed in.

“I actually want the black community to leave her alone,” a fan wrote.

“Not the hoteps circulating another viral tweet about serena’s appearance… leave the woman BE,” said another.

 

Several fans also argued that the decades of cruel remarks were bound to leave a mark on the 43-year-old, contending that the haters had no right to criticize any perceived change in her looks after that.

“Yall literally called her a monkey for years since she was FOURTEEN and said she was too strong of a black woman and yall are blaming HER for the effect of hatred yall displayed on a dark skinned talented inspiring black woman?” one fan commented.

“A lot of yall are very dumb to think black people keep the same complexion all year round. She’s probably not in the sun as much, isn’t being greased up for photos, etc. y’all the same people who bullied Chadwick when he was sick,” another fan argued.

“Idk if it’s filters or she’s bleaching but if it’s the latter I’m not surprised by this outcome. I removed how she was portrayed ugly by the media got called men this and that, I won’t be shocked if that contributed to this now,” a fan remarked.”The black community spent years calling her ugly and masculine looking and clearly she heard all of it,” said yet another.

“I’m more kind about body image, more forgiving” – Serena Williams on teaching her daughter Olympia to think positively about other people

“I’m more kind about body image, more forgiving” – Serena Williams on teaching her daughter Olympia to think positively about other people

 

Serena Williams with her husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia (Source: Getty)

In an interview with CNN Sports earlier this year, Serena Williams opened up about how motherhood had inspired her to become kinder and “more forgiving” about body image issues.

The former World No. 1 also disclosed that she made a conscious effort to teach her daughter Olympia to speak positively about other people, wanting to protect the seven-year-old from “cattiness” that would impact her mental health.

“I’m more kind about body image, I’m more forgiving. And then it’s not only that, it’s how I also talk to my daughter. I always tell her, ‘Say something nice. Is there something nice you can think of about this girl?’” Serena Williams said.

“Because I just want her to always think positive about other people as well. Because that cattiness and that mental health is really not healthy. So I think it just starts at such a young age of just encouraging positive views and positive feedback and positive words that are coming out of your mouth,” she added.

Serena Williams recently made the humorous admission that she no longer used weighing scales in an effort to avoid the “negativity and lies.” The 43-year-old also offered words of encouragement to her fans, reminding them that they were “gorgeous, beautiful, and loved.“