It was only in February that Serena Williams made a jaw-dropping surprise appearance in Kendrick Lamar’s Halftime Show at the NFL Super Bowl. As Lamar dropped his fiery diss track Not Like Us aimed at Drake, Serena stole the spotlight with her iconic Crip Walk that had made waves at the 2012 Olympics as well! The crossover between sports and music sent fans into a frenzy. But whose idea was it? Serena’s or Lamar’s? Well, the 23-time GS winner has now opened up about the behind-the-scenes conversation that led to this memorable collaboration.

Just weeks before the 2025 Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar, a 22-time Grammy winner and Pulitzer Prize honoree, reached out to Serena with a surprising idea. “We’ve been trying to do something together for ages,” Lamar said. Both icons, born and raised in Compton, have long represented their city on the global stage. Lamar wanted Serena to join him during his halftime show performance, not just as a guest, but to revive a moment that once captivated the world: the Crip Walk.

The dance, deeply rooted in California’s street culture, has drawn both praise and controversy for its gang-related origins across the world. But this time, on one of the world’s biggest stages, Serena brought it back with purpose. She recently shared that Lamar pitched the idea and she embraced it, blending sport, music, and legacy in one unforgettable moment.

Serena, who has been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential, engaged in an interview with the publication, addressing Lamer’s request to reproduce a celebrated Wimbledon maneuver. Recalling her reaction when Lamar first made the request, Serena said, “I’m like, ‘Wait, what, you’re asking me? I’m not Taylor Swift, let’s be honest. I would have a better chance to be a quarterback at the Super Bowl than dance.”

Serena had set the internet ablaze with her Crip Walk celebration at the 2012 London Olympics as well, where she secured a gold medal in the singles event, defeating Maria Sharapova in commanding fashion, but also set the internet ablaze with an unexpected celebration.

While her victory was historic, it was her post-match dance at the All England Club that truly stole the spotlight. When asked about it in 2012, the 23-time GS winner playfully dodged, adding, “It’s just a dance we do in California, I’d say, West Coast. Actually, there is a name, but I don’t know; it’s inappropriate.”

While Serena opened up about the backstory behind her iconic Crip Walk revival during Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying Super Bowl halftime show, she also revealed another intriguing detail from the big night: why Serena deliberately avoided Taylor Swift.

“Hard when your team is losing,” Serena Williams opens up about the reason she avoided her pal Taylor Swift

Serena Williams and iconic singer Taylor Swift have shared a warm friendship for nearly a decade, dating back to Williams’ surprise appearance on Swift’s 1989 Tour in 2015. More recently, the tennis icon revealed her daughter Olympia is a huge Swiftie, just like her. Previously, Serena even posted from a 2024 Eras Tour concert, playfully calling herself a “Oh, just a casual Swiftie over here (maybe not so casual )” So, at the 2025 Super Bowl, fans were surprised the two didn’t reunite. Serena has now explained that she intentionally avoided a public meet-up with Taylor. And the reason is justified!

Serena Williams arrived at the 2025 Super Bowl with her family, hoping to create a special moment by getting her elder daughter, Olympia, an autograph from longtime friend Taylor Swift. Swift was at the game supporting her boyfriend, the Kansas City Chiefs star, Travis Kelce.

However, as the game unfolded and the Chiefs fell behind to the Philadelphia Eagles, Williams, who had brought Olympia close to Swift’s suite, reconsidered immediately. As the Chiefs’ hopes dimmed and they ultimately lost 22–40, Serena decided it was best to keep her distance from Taylor, choosing empathy over excitement in that emotionally charged moment.

“I was ready to go in there myself and be like, ‘Taylor, come get this girl. It’s hard when your team is losing. I totally get it,” she admitted while talking to the Times.

Even though Serena and Taylor remain close friends, her thoughtful gesture reflected a true athlete’s instinct. After a tough loss, sometimes it’s best to give space to your friends rather than socialize. Isn’t it? Serena knows it all too well!