"Women can hold their own" - Serena Williams' ex-coach reacts as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-led movie "Wicked" breaks records
Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs reacted to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-led movie 'Wicked' breaking records at the box office.
Wicked, directed by Jonathan Murray Chu, was theatrically released in the US on Friday, November 22. It is the first of a two-part film series, adapted from the musical theatre play Wicked. The film received positive reviews worldwide, with audience and critics praising the performances and visuals. It has already garnered $164 million, shattering the record for the biggest worldwide opening for a Broadway production film.
Stubbs reflected on the success of Wicked on social media, likening it to the 2023 film 'Barbie'. The women-centric film starring Margot Robbie also became a massive hit at the box office. Touching upon the two movies' triumphs, the Australian stated that women can do well and maintain their position at the box office.
"Barbie and now this!! Yeah I think women can hold their own at the box office," Rennae Stubbs wrote on her Instagram stories.
Wicked has proven to be a major success both domestically and internationally. The film has reported excellent opening week numbers in Australia, the UK, Ireland, and Mexico. Its second part is scheduled to be released on November 21, 2025.
Rennae Stubbs coached Serena Williams for the American's final Grand Slam tournament of her career, the 2022 US Open. She has also coached Eugenie Bouchard and Karolina Pliskova.
Serena Williams and Nike partnered for an initiative intended to empower women in sports
Serena Williams partnered with Nike for an initiative aimed at empowering women in sports. The initiative called Nike's Athlete Think Tank, founded in 2022, collaborated with female athletes from a wide range of sports.
Williams, who has always advocated for equal rights, stated that the collective was dedicated to expanding the voice of women athletes and ensuring that they have equal access to sports as men.
"The Nike Athlete Think Tank is a collective dedicated to amplifying the voices of women athletes. Because women and girls don’t have equal access to play and sport, we teamed up to share our experiences and turn insights into action and fight for gender equality," Williams' post on X read.
The initiative comprised 13 female athletes in its founding year. Soccer players Ada Hegerberg and Deyna Castellanos, basketball player Sabrina Ionescu, and runner Shalane Flanagan were some notable names apart from Williams.