Serena Williams Responds to Racist Remarks About Her "Chocolate" Baby

Why would anyone think to mess with Serena Williams?

Athlete, Championship, Arm, Competition event, Muscle, Sports, Recreation, Physical fitness, Endurance sports,
(Image credit: Archives)

There are many ways to react to the news that tennis god Serena Williams is pregnant, such as with delight. Or with awe, that she managed to win the Australian Open while 10 weeks along. A less acceptable way is to publicly opine about what color the baby will be, as Ilie Nastaste did last week.

Over the weekend, Nastase, a Romanian tennis legend who peaked in the 1970s, allegedly said of Williams' pregnancy, "Let's see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?" He seemed to be referring to the unborn child's skintone, as Williams is black and her fiancé, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is white.

The International Tennis Federation immediately decried the comments, saying: "The ITF does not tolerate discriminatory and offensive language and behaviour of any kind. We are aware of alleged comments made by Romanian captain Ilie Nastase and have begun an immediate investigation so that we have the full facts of the situation before taking further and appropriate action."

Today, Williams responded to the nasty words in an Instagram post.

"I am not afraid unlike you. You see, I am no coward," Williams says, before quoting Maya Angelou's famous poem, "Still I Rise."

Nastase's longstanding nickname is the "Bucharest Buffoon."

Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.

Kaitlin Menza
Latest in Celebrity
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Queen Camilla has blonde hair and is wearing a dark green shirt dress
Why Queen Camilla Has Been Issued a "Strict" Warning Regarding Her Meeting With the Pope
Benny Blanco in a purple shirt with a white tank top underneath and Selena Gomez in a black dress backstage at The Tonight Show in March 2025
Selena Gomez Says She’s "Excited" to Become a Mom Someday in Joint Interview with Benny Blanco
Meghan Markle wears blue denim jeans
Meghan Markle Confirms Skinny Jeans Are Back by Finally Revealing Her Favorite Frame Denim
Carole Middleton has blonde hair and laughs while shopping with daughter Kate Middleton
How Carole Middleton Might Step Up to Support Princess Kate Following Previous Controversies
Ben Affleck in a black suit and Jennifer Lopez in a gown with a silver sequined sheer skirt and black strapless bodice with long black gloves at the premiere of This Is Me Now... A Love Story in February 2024
Ben Affleck Opens Up About His Divorce From Jennifer Lopez for the First Time
Latest in News
Selena Gomez wears a cropped blazer and matching trousers while attending the Drew Barrymore show in New York City
Selena Gomez Is the Cropped Blazer Trend's Final Boss
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Rihanna in a head scarf and multiple necklaces
Rihanna’s Jamaica Manicure Will Unite the Caribbean
Queen Camilla has blonde hair and is wearing a dark green shirt dress
Why Queen Camilla Has Been Issued a "Strict" Warning Regarding Her Meeting With the Pope
Benny Blanco in a purple shirt with a white tank top underneath and Selena Gomez in a black dress backstage at The Tonight Show in March 2025
Selena Gomez Says She’s "Excited" to Become a Mom Someday in Joint Interview with Benny Blanco
Bella Hadid leaves her hotel wearing a cardigan with the studded bag trend and straight-leg jeans
Bella Hadid Carries the Studded Bag Trend Into the Spotlight With a Boho-Chic Valentino Tote