Serena Williams uneasy over hotel cotton plant decoration in New York
Video shows Williams reacting to a cotton plant in a Manhattan hotel hallway during a Nike-SKIMS event
Serena Williams expressed discomfort over a cotton plant used as decor in a New York City hotel hallway, a moment captured in a video she posted on social media. The 43-year-old tennis icon was in the city Thursday after promoting Kim Kardashian's SKIMS/Nike collaboration, though the hotel involved has not been named. In the clip, Williams asks, “How do we feel about cotton as decoration? Personally, for me, it doesn't feel great.”
In the footage, Williams plucks a cotton ball from a small vase and rubs it between her fingers, then shudders and places it back. The moment attracted attention to a seemingly ordinary decor choice as she continued her New York stopover. She was in town to promote a Nike collaboration with Kim Kardashian's SKIMS brand, following related appearances the day prior.
The reaction has sparked discussion about cotton’s broader historical associations. Some observers note that cotton production in the United States is linked, historically, to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. There is no explicit explanation from Williams for her response, and the moment does not appear to be tied to any announced event or statement. Williams has long used her platform to address social issues, and she remains a prominent figure in fashion and branding circles alike.
Even after stepping away from full-time competition following her 2022 US Open farewell, Williams continues to intersect sports, culture, and commerce. She remains connected with Nike through the Swoosh, a relationship that has endured throughout her post-tennis career and remains a notable facet of her public persona as she expands into fashion ventures and collaborations.
The episode underscores Williams’s enduring influence in the culture and entertainment landscape, where moments from her everyday life can quickly become talking points. As she travels between projects in New York and beyond, fans and commentators alike watch for how she negotiates comfort, activism, and branding—whether on a red carpet or in a hotel hallway.