NEW YORK, NY – Serena Williams is calling out a New York City hotel for using a cotton decoration, saying the display didn’t sit right with her.
The tennis legend posted on Instagram that the sight of cotton on display in the hotel lobby left her unsettled. “Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great,” Williams told her followers, without naming the hotel.
NEW: Serena Williams speaks out against a cotton decoration at a New York City hotel, says it doesn't make her "feel great."
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 27, 2025
"Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great," she said on IG.
Ironically, in a 2021 video, Williams showed off her home, which features a sculpture of a… pic. /biyF3jbdJA
Old posts resurface
Following her comments, fans began circulating images from Williams’ past, pointing out that her own home once featured a piece of art prominently involving cotton. In a 2021 video tour of her residence, Williams showcased a sculpture titled Monument for a Promise by artist Radcliffe Bailey.
The piece depicts a donkey carrying a trunk while standing over a mound of cotton, an intentional reference to history and labor in the United States.
Family connection to the artwork
Fans also resurfaced an Instagram post from Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, who previously highlighted the artwork on his own account. According to ARTnews, Bailey’s work draws on themes of ancestry, memory, and African American history, giving context to the sculpture that some online critics contrasted with the hotel’s decoration.
Williams has not addressed the resurfaced posts or commented further on the comparison.
Key Points
- Serena Williams said a cotton decoration at a New York City hotel did not make her “feel great.”
- Fans pointed out Williams owns a sculpture that incorporates cotton, titled Monument for a Promise.
- The artwork, by Radcliffe Bailey, has been featured in both Williams’ and her husband’s social media posts.
Even the most decorated athletes can spark debate with a single Instagram story.
