The upscale restaurant that Serena Williams criticized on social media for refusing to let her and her children in has responded after she slammed the establishment.
The 42-year-old tennis star claimed on Monday that he wasn’t allowed to dine on the rooftop of The Peninsula in Paris, despite the property being “empty”.
“@peninsulaparis geez I’ve been turned away to eat at vacant rooftop restaurants at nicer places but never with my kids. Always the first time. #Olympic2024,” Williams wrote. I wrote to XAdd melting face and eye rolling emojis.
Now the restaurant has responded to the 23-time Grand Slam winner, reiterating why staff refused to seat Williams and her children.
“Our hotel, like all our esteemed guests, has the utmost admiration and respect for Ms. Williams and, in response to her tweet, we again deeply apologize for not being able to offer her seating at the rooftop bar when she arrived with her family without a reservation,” the hotel said in a statement to The Washington Post.
“We always try to make space for walk-in guests, but sometimes that’s not possible.”
“On August 5, our hotel’s rooftop bar was indeed full, with the only tables available at the time being at our gourmet restaurant L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also full,” the Peninsula Paris said.
“As an alternative, Ms. Williams was offered an outdoor table downstairs at the hotel’s La Terrasse Kléber,” the statement concluded, adding that “we have contacted Ms. Williams directly.”
The hotel’s statement came after it released a public response to the former athlete. About X Monday night.
“Mrs. Williams, we are deeply sorry for the disappointment tonight,” the restaurant tweeted.
“Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was full and the only tables available were at our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was also fully booked.”
“We are always honored to welcome you and will welcome you again any time. Peninsula Paris,” they wrote in the letter. Follow-up Post.
Williams is in Paris watching the Olympics with her family, including her six-year-old daughter Olympia.
She was one of many celebrities and athletes who took part in the Olympic opening ceremony on July 26, rowing with Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis and Nadia Comaneci.
The former tennis ace described the ceremony as “unforgettable”.
“From taking part in the amazing opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics to being on a boat in the rain – it was pouring! My eyelashes fell off right away,” she said. X was teased..
In addition to her legendary string of Grand Slam victories, Williams has won a total of four Olympic gold medals, including in singles and doubles at London in 2012.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion will hang up her racket after the 2022 US Open.
Olympic tennis came to a dramatic close at Roland Garros on Sunday, when Serbia’s Novak Djokovic beat Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz to win the gold medal.
Djokovic won in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6, to claim his first Olympic gold medal, with Williams in attendance.
