Venus Williams consults Peyton Manning & Travis Kelce's siblings, hilariously wonders if sister Serena Williams' ego will be inflated after ESPYs role
Serena Williams stole the show as the host of the 2024 ESPY Awards. But before she took the stage, her elder sister, Venus gave Serena some friendly advice for the gig with the help of Peyton Manning, Stephen Curry and Travis Kelce's siblings.
Serena Williams made her hosting debut at the 2024 ESPY Awards on July 11 and created many headlines with her impressive skits and cheeky digs sprinkled throughout her various performances. Venus Williams was also present at the award ceremony and shared a piece of playful advice with Serena ahead of her debut.
Venus Williams was on the moon after learning that Serena would host the ESPY Awards but worried about how she would handle the opportunity. To find out more, Venus talked to siblings of ESPYs hosts from the past to learn if they got a "big head" after receiving the fanfare from hosting the award ceremony.
Venus talked to Eli Manning, elder brother of football legend Peyton Manning, who hosted the ESPYs in 2017; Seth Curry, brother of 2022 ESPYs host and basketball star Stephen Curry; and Jason Kelce, whose brother Travis Kelce made several appearances at the ESYPs. She went on to advise Serena to keep a level head.
"So proud of you @serenawilliams just don’t let your head get too big…," Venus wrote on social media platform X.
Venus and Serena Williams take sly dig at Chiefs' Harrison Butker at ESPYs 2024
Venus Williams joined Serena Williams and actress Quinta Brunson on stage at the 2024 ESPY Awards, and during their skit, the three women came together to promote women's sports and took a sly dig at American football kicker Harrison Butker.
A few months ago, Butker received a lot of flak over his controversial commencement address at Benedictine College, a religious school in Kansas. In his speech, Butker criticized the US government’s COVID-19 response and made some remarks on women, which rubbed many the wrong way.
"I know many of you are excited about the careers ahead of you, but I venture to say that most of you are much more excited about your marriages and the children you are bringing into the world [...] As men we set the pace for our culture and we don't have to apologise for our masculinity," Butker had said.
At the 2024 ESPY Awards, Venus Williams implored viewers to watch and "enjoy" women sports, at which point, Serena Williams interjected to add, "everyone expect Harrison Butker," who was present at the ceremony at the Dolby Theater. Quinta Brunson strongly agreed with Williams sisters.
"So, go ahead and enjoy women's sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports," Venus Williams said.
"Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you," Serena Williams added.
"At all. Like, ever," Quinta Brunson agreed.