"I don't want my child to feel pain" - Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian reflects on his immigrant struggles and how he shields their daughters
Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, recently reflected on his experiences as an immigrant and how he shields his daughters, Olympia and Adira, from facing similar struggles. The Reddit co-founder is of Armenian descent on his father's side, while his mother, an immigrant from Germany, was undocumented in the U.S. for over a year due to an expired visa.
Ohanian has frequently shared his history while publicly addressing social issues, notably during last year's Azerbaijan conflict. Now recently, the 41-year-old reflected on his struggles as an immigrant yet again, in conversation with renowned comic Hasan Minhaj on the "Business Dad podcast".
The conversation began when Minhaj reflected on how growing up with the challenges of being an immigrant and experiencing the stark contrast of "not having to having," either breaks people or motivates them with an intense drive.
During the conversation, Serena Williams' husband praised Hasan Minhaj's stand-up debut for presenting the immigrant experience in a fresh, impactful, and funny way. He highlighted how comedy can disarm audiences, fostering empathy for uncomfortable subjects.
"You hit on this, in homecoming king. You were telling something with a medium that I thought I had seen a million times before in a special so differently. The whole thing just made me feel like, oh there is a there there, that I can see an appetite for that has not been fed. And that's what comedy can do so well and it can disarm and it can allow people to feel empathy in places they shouldn't necessarily," he said.
For those unaware, in his debut stand-up special Homecoming King, the 39-year-old humorously and poignantly shared the challenges of racism and bullying he faced as the child of Indian immigrants.
Ohanian added that while he wants to shield Olympia and Adira from pain, he knows that growth and strength often come from facing challenges, as Minhaj pointed out.
"And then how to do it in your own home and how to inject that in your kids. I don't want my child to feel pain. I think that is a natural feeling. But so much of that growth you are talking about comes from that pain," he added.
Watch the clip shared by Ohanian below:
"I pray that you all get to feel this kind of love": Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian said while lauding his daughters
Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, recently shared a touching picture on Instagram, showing him sharing a warm embrace with his daughters, Olympia and Adira.
"Fellow men: I pray that you all get to feel this kind of love.
Ohanian is a seasoned entrepreneur who co-founded Reddit in 2005. He currently leads his venture capital firm Seven Seven Six.
Ohanian remains deeply committed to his parenting responsibilities. He frequently shares moments with Olympia, highlighting their charming outings and golf sessions, despite his busy professional schedule.
Williams and Ohanian married in 2017, shortly after welcoming their first daughter, Olympia, who was born two months prior. Their younger daughter, Adira, was born in August last year.