Since becoming a mother to Olympia and Adira, Serena Williams has continued to shine in various endeavors, including her entrepreneurial ventures like WYN Beauty, S by Serena, Serena Ventures, and plenty more. Even after her retirement from tennis in 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam winner is always on the move, and she is never hesitant to share her day-to-day life with her daughters on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, keeping her fans engaged. However, at times, not everyone is happy with the content.
Over the years, the fans have watched Serena’s elder daughter Olympia grow from a tiny toddler to a confident seven-year-old. Olympia often impresses fans with her skills, whether she’s golfing with her father, Alexis Ohanian, or twinning with Serena in matching outfits. In one fun TikTok video, Serena tasted cookies baked by Olympia, with Alexis assisting as her sous chef!Sharing a fun cooking session with Olympia on Instagram, Serena captioned: “Bet you didn’t know I love cooking. Here is me teaching @olympiaohanian my gumbo recipe.” For the unversed, Gumbo is a beloved Louisiana dish, blending African, American Indian, and European flavors. It often features the iconic Creole “Holy Trinity” of onions, bell peppers, and celery, along with meats or seafood like chicken, sausage, shrimp, or crab. Okra or filé powder are commonly used as thickeners.
In the video, Serena chopped onions and sausages while Olympia helped with prep work, stirring a pot and asking if she could taste the sauce. The moment highlighted their special bond as they created this mouthwatering meal together and served it in the end over some rice. It looked delicious, to say the least!
Additionally, the video also featured Serena and Alexis’s dogs, Chip and Adora, who were excitedly present in the kitchen. As Williams offered them a piece of sausage, their tails wagged enthusiastically. But while many fans found the moment adorable, the presence of pets in the kitchen didn’t sit well with a few.
Fans weigh in on Serena cooking with her pets by her sideFans expressed concern about Serena Williams’ kitchen habits, particularly when pets are involved. One comment read, “Damm she feed the dog with her fingers and prepared the food just nasty.” This concern about hygiene is understandable, given that pets can carry bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. However, Serena’s dogs, like Chip, have been part of her life for a while, and she’s shared moments with them before. Notably, she once sampled Chip’s gourmet dog food in 2016, which didn’t end well for her. This incident, where she tried salmon and rice meant for her dog while in Rome for the Italian Open, left her feeling unwell.
Serena was in Rome for the 2016 Italian Open and ordered a gourmet dog food dish from the hotel’s room service menu. The dish consisted of salmon and rice, which she thought looked appetizing and decided to try. However, she soon felt unwell and ended up with an upset stomach. Despite feeling sick, Serena went on to win her tennis match against Christina McHale, even clinching the title in the end.
Another fan pointed out, “Not after you fed them dogs and went right back to yo meal prep lol.” Even when the food looks incredible, one fan couldn’t help but lament, “Everything looks amazing, but pets in the kitchen. I’m a germaphobe,” adding to the notion that it’s unhygienic to have dogs in the kitchen. However, Serena often takes her dog Chip with her to various events and outings. Chip was spotted accompanying Serena even to the US Open in 2022, following the passing of her other dog, Lauralei. So her love for having her furry companions by her side is undeniable.
Some fans were more direct with their reactions. One wrote, “Gurlll no pets in the kitchen!!!” as a general rule of thumb. Another fan echoed this sentiment stating, “Too many Dogs.” Despite having only two dogs visible in the video, Serena and Alexis Ohanian have three dogs at home: Chip, Adora, and Maximus. Both are dog lovers and have had multiple pets over the years. Serena often mentions her dogs in interviews, showcasing her affection for them.