Serena Williams fires back at 'haters' after 'ridiculous' claim made about tennis legend

Serena Williams has hit back at critics over an outrageous claim about here skincare regime.

The tennis icon is one of the most decorated sportspeople of all time, having won an unprecedented 23 grand slam singles titles in her illustrious career – a record in the open era.

She also spent a total of 319 weeks at the top of the world ranking and is a three-time Olympic goal medalist, including two doubles triumphs alongside here sister Venus Williams.

Williams retired from tennis after the 2022 US Open, the same tournament where she'd won her first-ever grand slam in 1999 and was a six-time champion.

Since hanging up her racket, Williams has launched a Wyn Beauty, a cosmetics and skincare brand.

And it was during an Instagram Live tutorial the tennis legend was recording for the brand that she took the opportunity to address an outlandish claim about her complexion.

“And then I put just that neutral colour, that is actually my skin colour, and no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” Williams said.

“There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colours.

“Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin.’ I’m a dark, Black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look.”

Accusations that Williams bleaches her skin were sparked after the retired athlete was captured in a viral video while volunteering at her daughter's school play. Williams explained that her skin appeared lighter than usual during the clip due to the fact she had been wearing "stage make-up".

Williams also added that, while skin bleaching is not a practice she has undertaken, she does not judge those who do.

“And if people do it, that’s their thing, and they have every opportunity and they should. I don’t judge, but you guys do," she said.

“But that’s what this world is about, and I stay in my lane — the non-judgy one, and I keep it. But no, I actually don’t bleach my skin, so can we just kinda clear that up?"