Serena Williams roasts LeBron James' hairline at ESPYs 2024, jokes about her & daughter Olympia duo being more impressive than James & son Bronny
Tennis legend Serena Williams hosted the annual ESPY Awards on July 11, 2024. The 23-time Grand Slam champion kept the laughs coming, roasting several sports personalities including the Los Angeles Lakers' father-son duo of LeBron and Bronny James.
During her monologue at the event, the 42-year-old subtly threw shade at NBA legend LeBron James and his son Bronny, who the Lakers selected as the 55th overall draft pick this year. The tennis legend highlighted this point in her monologue, wishing Bronny James a long career.
However, she also poked fun at LeBron, hoping Bronny's career would last long enough to see his hairline recede and 'miraculously' unrecede - a nod to LeBron's 2014 hair transplant surgery.
"He got drafted to the Lakers where he will play with his dad. And I truly hope Bronny has a long career… so long that he will see his hairline recede, then, miraculously unrecede, like dad," Serena Williams joked.
Lebron James had previously spoken of his strong desire to be on the court with his son. Serena Williams later quipped that while the 4-time NBA champ aims to win with his son now, she won a Major (the 2017 Australian Open) while pregnant, indicating that her achievement was more impressive.
“LeBron wants to win with his son on his team… I won with my daughter in my belly. I think we know which one is WAY more impressive," Serena Williams said.
Venus Williams, also present at the event and who lost to sister Serena in the 2017 Australian Open final, hilariously added that the latter was effectively playing alongside her daughter Olympia, which was unfair.
“That was 2 vs 1 it wasn’t fair,” Venus said.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also roasted renowned sports journalist and WWE commentator Pat McAfee, who had earlier made controversial remarks about WNBA star Caitlin Clark.
Serena Williams criticized Harrison Butker for his comments on women at ESPYs 2024
Serena Williams used the platform of the 2024 ESPYs to criticize Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker for his questionable remarks about women earlier this year.
Butker, who was invited to give a commencement address at Benedictine College in Kansas, opined that most women would prefer to be homemakers rather than ambitious in their careers. As a result, the 28-year-old received heavy criticism online.
While celebrating women's achievements in sports during the event, Venus Williams requested people to enjoy women's sports similar to the way they enjoy any other sport.
"So, go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports," Venus said.
Serena then chimed in stating that the message was not meant for Butker.
"Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you," Serena added.
Serena Williams has frequently advocated women's sports and championed social issues such as racial inclusivity in sports at such events, in her interviews and on other platforms.