What started as a throwaway hot take from Stephen A. Smith months ago has now come full circle, live on ESPN. Serena Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, calmly but firmly confronted Smith on First Take after the host’s infamous remark that he’d “divorce Serena Williams” over her Super Bowl halftime dance with Kendrick Lamar.
It happened on the October 9th episode of First Take, where Ohanian joined the show as a guest to talk about business, sports, and culture. Near the end of the segment, the Reddit co-founder turned to Smith with a smile and said:
“Stephen A., I think you had some marriage advice for me. “I was hoping you were going to be here. … I was gonna ask, cause, you hadn’t been married before, right? Cause I give advice to plenty of founders who want to build billion-dollar companies. And the reason I do that is because I build billion-dollar companies, so I generally try to stay in my lane.”
The studio fell quiet. Smith, clearly caught off guard, laughed nervously, unsure of where this was going. Then Ohanian delivered one of the most composed clapbacks ever aired on sports television.
It was direct but respectful and the internet loved it. Many said it was the perfect way to defend Serena without hostility or ego.
The confrontation stemmed from Smith’s comments back in February, when Serena made a surprise cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show. Since Lamar performed “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake, Serena’s former flame, Smith claimed on First Take the next morning that he would’ve divorced her if he were her husband.
“If I’m married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass. ‘Cause clearly you don’t belong with me. What you worried about him for and you’re with me? Bye. Bye.”
The take was met with immediate backlash. Fans called it disrespectful, and even Smith’s colleagues pushed back on air. Many pointed out that Serena wasn’t “trolling” anyone, she was celebrating her Compton roots and making a powerful cultural cameo.
After Ohanian’s on-air exchange went viral, Smith responded on The Stephen A. Smith Show later that night, clarifying that he meant no harm.
Smith went on to praise Ohanian for addressing him “like a gentleman” and even called Serena “the GOAT.” He admitted that Ohanian’s point, about not commenting on marriage without experience, was fair.
The internet, however, had already made up its mind. Clips of Ohanian’s poised response racked up millions of views within hours. Fans applauded his tone and the message behind it: defending your partner doesn’t have to mean confrontation, it can mean composure.
Serena and Ohanian, married since 2017, are known for their solid partnership and mutual respect. The couple share two daughters, Olympia and Adira, and have become one of sports’ most admired families.
In the end, Alexis Ohanian didn’t just defend his wife; he reminded everyone what respect and composure look like in the face of public scrutiny. Serena Williams’ legacy speaks for itself, and with a partner like Ohanian standing beside her, it’s clear that the power couple continues to set the standard both on and off the court.
