The tennis icon says she held back from seeing longtime friend Taylor Swift out of respect—amid boos and heartbreak for the pop star at the big game

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New York | April 17, 2025 — Tennis legend Serena Williams may have attended the Super Bowl with her eyes set on a fun family moment — but she ended up making a tough call to stay away from her longtime friend Taylor Swift.

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In a new interview with Time Magazine, Serena explained why she, husband Alexis Ohanian, and daughter Olympia backed off from getting an autograph from the 14-time Grammy winner, who was cheering on her boyfriend Travis Kelce at the high-stakes NFL face-off.

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“I was ready to go in there myself and be like, ‘Taylor, come get this girl,’” Serena said with a laugh.
“But I just felt like she needed space. I’m such a mom.”

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🏈 Why Serena Stepped Back

As Swift faced boos from a crowd of Philadelphia Eagles fans while watching her boyfriend’s Kansas City Chiefs lose 40–22, Williams said she decided to give her pal some breathing room.

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“It’s hard when your team is losing,” she said. “I totally get it.”

Rather than intrude, Serena opted to wait for a better time to let her daughter meet her idol.

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📸 Serena Had Her Own Super Bowl Spotlight

While she didn’t get face time with Swift, Serena had a viral moment of her own — briefly dancing during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, which sparked online chatter, especially over the choice of song: Not Like Us, widely believed to be aimed at Drake, one of Serena’s exes.

Critics, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, claimed the move was disrespectful. Serena shut that down:

“I would never do that,” she told Time. “I respect how people could think that, but absolutely not. I’ve never had negative feelings towards him.”

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💬 Defending Taylor Amid the Boos

Though she avoided the VIP suite during the game, Serena had Swift’s back when fans jeered her after her image appeared on the Jumbotron.

“I love you @taylorswift13 — don’t listen to those booo!!” Serena posted on social media in a show of support.

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👯‍♀️ Decade-Long Friendship

The two icons have shared a strong friendship for over a decade. From Serena joining Swift on stage during the 1989 World Tour in London to being spotted out and about in New York with Karlie Kloss, their bond has endured through fame and frenzy.

Despite the missed opportunity at the Super Bowl, Serena reassured fans that her daughter will get that autograph — just on a better day.

“We’re just trying to get our daughter a Taylor Swift autograph. And nothing else,” Serena said. “We’ll find the right moment.”

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