Serena Williams Responds After Discovering Cotton Plant Decoration at NYC Hotel
New York, NY — Tennis icon Serena Williams is sparking conversation after calling out a questionable piece of hotel décor in New York City.
Serena Williams Questions Cotton as Decoration
On Thursday, Sept. 25, the 43-year-old athlete took to Instagram Stories, sharing a video of a vase holding a cotton plant in a hotel hallway. Williams asked her followers:
“Alright, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?”
She added candidly:
“Personally for me, it doesn’t feel great.”
In a follow-up clip, Williams picked up a piece of the cotton from the display, comparing it to something much less glamorous:
“It feels like nail polish remover cotton,” she said, cringing as she handled it before leaving the frame.
A Busy Trip to New York City
Williams’ New York trip wasn’t just about hotel décor — she was in the city to attend a SKIMS x Nike event, celebrating her role in the brand’s short film Bodies at Work.
The campaign also features stars like Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles, Chloe Kim, Madisen Skinner, Romane Dicko, Beatriz Hatz, and Nelly Korda.
Sharing highlights from the event, Williams posted a stylish video with the caption:
“Nike gave me the wings, SKIMS gave me the fit — together, they gave us a moment.”
Serena’s Honest Update on Mental Health
The tennis star’s hotel video comes shortly after she shared a candid post about her personal struggles. On Sept. 16, Williams posted a reflective message to Instagram, revealing she had endured a “difficult August.”
“Dearest gentle reader, my summer started out well but I was plunged into a difficult August. Like many of you, I faced challenges that tested my spirit and resilience,” she wrote.
Williams explained that she took time away to prioritize her mental health:
“Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters — your mental health and well-being. I took some time away to breathe, to reconnect with myself, and to remember that it’s perfectly okay to pause and reconnect.”
Serena Williams: Always Unapologetically Honest
From dominating the tennis court to speaking out on cultural issues and sharing her own mental health journey, Serena Williams continues to inspire. Her latest comments may have started with a cotton plant in a hotel hallway, but they sparked a much larger conversation about sensitivity, history, and perspective.
