Whoopi Goldberg slams Stephen A. Smith for linking Serena Williams’ Super Bowl cameo to ex Drake

Whoopi Goldberg Calls Out Stephen A. Smith Over Serena-Drake Super Bowl Drama

The Super Bowl is supposed to be about football, right? Well, not if you’re Stephen A. Smith, who decided to turn a simple Serena Williams cameo into a full-blown gossip fest about her ex, Drake. And Whoopi Goldberg? She was having none of it.

Let’s rewind. During the big game, Serena Williams made a quick appearance in a Super Bowl ad, looking every bit the icon she is. It was just a commercial, nothing more, nothing less. But somehow, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith saw an opportunity to bring up her past relationship with Drake. Yes, Drake—the same rapper she dated nearly a decade ago. Smith, never one to shy away from controversy, suggested there was some “message” in her Super Bowl spot that connected back to the rapper. Because obviously, every move a successful woman makes must somehow be linked to a man from her past. Right?

Enter Whoopi Goldberg, who wasn’t about to let this nonsense slide. On The View, Whoopi took aim at Smith’s unnecessary commentary, calling it “ridiculous” and questioning why Serena’s Super Bowl moment had to be framed around an old relationship. “She’s the greatest tennis player of all time, she’s in a commercial, and somehow this is about Drake?” Whoopi asked, her exasperation practically jumping through the screen.

And she had a point. Why do women, especially powerful, accomplished women, constantly have their achievements reframed through the lens of their past relationships? Serena Williams has 23 Grand Slam titles, a business empire, and an undeniable influence on and off the court. But sure, let’s talk about an ex from 2015.

Whoopi’s rebuke wasn’t just about Serena—it was about a larger issue. Women in the public eye are often reduced to who they’ve dated, married, or divorced. When Taylor Swift watches a football game, suddenly the entire NFL is about her and Travis Kelce. When Beyoncé drops an album, speculation swirls about Jay-Z. And now, Serena Williams stars in a Super Bowl commercial, and somehow, it’s a coded message to Drake? It’s a tired, lazy narrative, and Whoopi wasn’t afraid to say so.

Of course, Stephen A. Smith being Stephen A. Smith, he doubled down, insisting his comments were harmless and that people were “overreacting.” But Whoopi’s reaction—and the reaction of countless fans—suggested otherwise. The message was clear: Serena Williams doesn’t need to be tied to any man to be relevant. She is the moment, with or without Drake.

So maybe next time, we can just let Serena shine—no asterisks, no side plots, and certainly no unnecessary Drake references.