Serena Williams Shares the Back Story on Why Cotton Décor in a Hotel Didn’t Sit Right

Serena Williams has never been one to shy away from speaking her truth, and her latest Instagram Story proved just that.

While staying at a New York City hotel for a SKIMS x Nike event, the 43-year-old tennis icon walked into the hallway and was confronted with an unsettling sight: cotton plants displayed as décor.

“Alright, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?” Williams asked her followers in a video, showing the vase holding a cotton stalk on a table. For her, the imagery hit differently.

“Personally for me, it doesn’t feel great,” she admitted, later posting another clip where she picked up a piece of the cotton, noting it “feels like nail polish remover cotton” before wincing and walking away.

Why It Matters

For many Black people, cotton is more than a decorative plant — it carries the weight of history.

Enslaved Africans were forced to harvest cotton in brutal conditions, and the crop remains tied to painful memories of exploitation and oppression.

Williams’ reaction underscores how such design choices can feel insensitive, even in seemingly neutral spaces like hotel hallways.

The Larger Context

Williams was in New York City to attend a SKIMS event celebrating her appearance in Bodies at Work, a campaign highlighting the collaboration between Kim Kardashian’s brand and Nike.

Alongside athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles, and Chloe Kim, Williams shined in her role as both sports legend and cultural figure.

“Nike gave me the wings, SKIMS gave me the fit — together, they gave us a moment,” she captioned a post from the event, sharing her gratitude for the collaboration.

Still, the jarring hotel experience reminded her audience that even during high-profile moments, cultural insensitivity can surface in unexpected places.
Serena Williams || Image credit: @serenawilliams

A Summer of Reflection

Williams has also been candid about her personal challenges. Earlier this month, she shared a cryptic post about navigating “a difficult August,” saying she had to step back and focus on her mental health.

“Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters—your mental health and well-being,” she wrote, stressing the importance of pausing and reconnecting.

Her candid take on the cotton display is another example of how Williams continues to use her platform not only for sport and fashion but also to bring awareness to the lived experiences of Black women.