A luxury hotel in Paris said it was all booked up after tennis star Serena Williams publicly criticized it for refusing service to her and her kids during the Olympics.
On Monday, she shared a photo of the Peninsula Hotel with a caption describing her experience.
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids,” Williams wrote. “Always a first. #Olympic2024.”
The restaurant was quick to respond with an apology and an explanation, saying the rooftop was “indeed fully booked.”
“Dear Mrs. Williams, Please accept our deepest apologies for the disappointment you encountered tonight,” the hotel said in a reply to Williams’ post. “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was indeed fully booked and the only unoccupied tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”
In a follow-up post, the hotel added, “We have always been honored to welcome you and will always be to welcome you again.”
A slew of divided comments followed the exchange. Some berated the restaurant for not accommodating Williams, while others called on her to apologize for her entitlement.
One comment pointed out that the rooftop restaurant did not even take reservations, according to the Peninsula’s website.
Williams, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, was a torchbearer at the Olympics’ opening ceremony. She was seen cheering on athletes at various events, including Simone Biles, who led the U.S. to win gold in women’s gymnastics.
