Serena Williams, the tennis icon, made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s explosive Super Bowl halftime show in 2025, and in just a few seconds, she stole the spotlight by performing the crip walk. This brief cameo was more than just a celebrity moment; it was a powerful statement loaded with cultural history and personal significance, amplified by the global stage of the Super Bowl. Her performance instantly ignited the internet, sparking conversations about her Compton roots, her complex history with Drake, and most importantly, the dynamic and often misunderstood dance she chose: the crip walk.
Understanding Crip Walk Dancing: Origins and Evolution
Crip Walk Dancing, also known as the C-Walk, is a distinctive street dance that originated in the early 1970s in Compton, California, deeply intertwined with the Crips gang culture. However, to define it solely by its gang affiliation is to overlook its evolution and broader cultural impact. The dance is characterized by intricate footwork, rapid and rhythmic movements, often described as a complex series of shuffles, heel-toe motions, and kicks. Early forms of the Crip Walk were indeed used as gang communication, a way to signal affiliation and even intimidation.
Over time, like many forms of street dance, the crip walk transcended its original context. It evolved into a form of self-expression, adopted by hip-hop artists and dancers beyond gang boundaries. Musicians and entertainers, particularly those from Los Angeles and the West Coast hip-hop scene, began incorporating the crip walk into their performances and music videos, further popularizing and somewhat detaching it from its initial connotations. While the dance still carries historical weight and remains associated with Compton’s cultural landscape, it has also become recognized as a dynamic and skillful dance style in its own right.
Serena Williams’ Compton Connection and Super Bowl Statement
Serena Williams’ decision to crip walk during Kendrick Lamar’s performance is rich with layers of meaning. Like Lamar, Williams hails from Compton, a city that has profoundly shaped hip-hop culture. This shared background immediately establishes a connection to the dance’s origins. Furthermore, the Super Bowl performance occurred during Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” a song aimed at Drake, with whom both Lamar and Williams have a history of personal friction.
The lyrics of “Not Like Us” even include a line seemingly referencing Serena, “better not speak on Serena,” adding another layer of context to her appearance. Her crip walk, therefore, can be interpreted as a powerful act of solidarity with Lamar, a subtle jab at Drake, and a celebration of her Compton heritage on one of the world’s biggest stages. It was a moment that resonated deeply with those who understood the cultural nuances and personal histories involved.
Echoes of Wimbledon: Controversy and Reclamation
For Serena Williams, performing the crip walk was also a powerful act of reclamation. In 2012, after winning gold at the Wimbledon Olympics, Williams spontaneously performed a celebratory dance that was widely mischaracterized and heavily criticized as being the crip walk and as glorifying gang violence. Commentators and media figures condemned her actions, with some even labeling it as “crass” and “inappropriate,” suggesting it was akin to an “X-rated joke inside a church.” This backlash was widely seen by her defenders as racially biased and an overreaction to a celebratory dance by a Black athlete.
At the time, Williams responded simply, “It was just a dance.” However, the sting of that criticism clearly lingered. Her Super Bowl crip walk, over a decade later, can be seen as a deliberate and defiant re-appropriation of the dance. Performing it on an even larger stage, in a context where its cultural origins were more clearly understood and celebrated, allowed her to reclaim the narrative and challenge the earlier negative interpretations.
Internet Acclaim and Cultural Significance
The internet reaction to Serena’s Super Bowl crip walk was overwhelmingly positive, a stark contrast to the Wimbledon criticism. Fans and fellow athletes alike lauded her appearance. Coco Gauff declared, “serena ate that,” while Venus Williams echoed the sentiment, “You did that!!!” Social media platforms buzzed with praise, with many users pointing out the significance of her reclaiming the dance after the previous backlash.
Commentators online highlighted the cultural weight of her performance, noting that it was a powerful statement for Serena to perform a dance rooted in Black culture, especially in a performance criticizing someone accused of cultural appropriation. The positive reception signaled a significant shift in public perception and understanding of the crip walk, moving away from narrow, negative stereotypes towards a broader appreciation of its cultural significance and expressive potential.
Crip Walk Dancing: Beyond Stereotypes
Serena Williams’ Super Bowl moment served to broaden the understanding of crip walk dancing. It moved beyond the simplistic and often fear-based association with gangs, highlighting its roots in a specific community and its evolution as a form of cultural expression. While acknowledging its origins, her performance emphasized the dance’s dynamism, skill, and its capacity for personal and cultural statement.
Ultimately, Serena Williams’ crip walk at the Super Bowl was a masterclass in subtle yet powerful communication. It was a nod to her past, a wink at the present pop culture drama, and a bold step forward in how a historically significant dance is viewed and appreciated. It was, indeed, much more than just a dance.
