Serena Williams expresses discomfort at NYC hotel cotton plant decor
The tennis star, in town for a Skims/Nike launch, confronts decor of cotton in a New York hotel as scrutiny of her Ro GLP-1 partnership grows.
Serena Williams expressed discomfort after discovering a decorative cotton plant in a New York City hotel, posting the moment on Instagram Stories with the line, “Doesn’t feel great.” The 43-year-old tennis great was in the city to support Kim Kardashian’s Skims/Nike collaboration, though it was not immediately clear which hotel she was staying in.
In the clips, Williams walks toward the plant in a hallway, asks followers how they feel about cotton as decoration, and then plucks a cotton ball from a branch, rubbing it on her thumbnail and calling it “feels like nail polish remover cotton” as she shudders and moves off camera. A representative for Williams did not respond to requests for comment.
Her moment comes amid social media backlash over her partnership with GLP-1 weight-loss drug Ro. In August, Ro posted a promotional clip that showed her seemingly injecting the medication, which she said her body “needed” after welcoming two children. “Just like I always have, I’m making informed choices for my health and my body,” the post’s caption read.
Some followers reacted with disappointment in the comments, with one writing, “'After kids this is the medicine my body needed.' Needed? Fantastic, now we can undo all the progression we made on letting women know its ok to take time, recover and get back in shape or not to.” Another added, “As an athlete and an influencer, it’s a shame that you’re reiterating the narrative that you need to take medication to be healthy and achieve an acceptable standard of beauty.”
The mom of two has faced ongoing discussion online about her GLP-1 partnership. “This video made me really sad and disappointed.” “What Serena is really saying here: it doesn’t matter how successful, powerful, or strong you are — if you’re not thin, it doesn’t matter. That’s so sad,” one commenter wrote. Williams later discussed her GLP-1 use in an August interview with People, saying, “I feel great,” and describing a weight-loss transformation that left her feeling “light physically and light mentally.”
While the hotel moment drew its share of reactions, Williams remains a prominent figure at high-profile fashion and athletic events, balancing endorsement deals and public appearances with her personal health choices. The hotel moment underscores how even celebrated athletes are scrutinized for everyday decor and for the health decisions they publicly disclose.