WATCH: When Serena Williams was serenaded by Jamie Foxx at ESPY Awards 2003
The ESPY Awards, an annual celebration of the finest in sports, have produced many memorable moments over the years. One such instance occurred during the 12th Annual ESPY Awards in 2003 when American actor Jamie Foxx serenaded tennis legend Serena Williams with a humorous song.
While presenting the show, Foxx decided to serenade the tennis player with a song he had written, "Can I Be Your Tennis Ball?" The spontaneous performance was a mixture of humor and appreciation, and served as pure pleasure for the spectators.
With his lively delivery and engaging lyrics, Foxx had the audience in stitches, and even Williams, who was clearly amused, joined in on the fun to give the fans a moment to cherish for years. Since then, the event's video clip has gone viral and is frequently shared and watched again by fans for its sheer entertainment.
As the recent 2024 ESPY Awards took place, fans circulated the clip on social media highlighting its cult status among the ESPYs crowd. Several remarks were also aimed at Foxx and Williams' contagious laugh from the 2003 event.
Additionally, some fans turned their attention to the responses of other well-known people in the audience, like Tom Cruise who was seen laughing hysterically throughout the performance.
The star-studded 2024 ESPY Awards took place on July 11, 2024 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The show featured unique elements including heartfelt tributes and some spectacular performances.
Among the major winners this year are NBA star Luka Dončić, football quarterback Patrick Mahomes and gymnast Simone Biles. The Pat Tillman Award for Service was presented to Prince Harry, demonstrating the event's reach beyond athletic accomplishments.
Serena Williams shines as the host at the 2024 ESPY Awards
Serena Williams made a delightful return to the spotlight as she acted as host of the 2024 ESPY Awards. The tennis icon, who had announced her retirement from the sport in September 2022, gave a captivating performance at the show, impressing the crowd with her constant wit and charm.
Williams' engaging speech was a blend of genuine appreciation and sarcastic humor throughout the event. She made a few light remarks on the pay gap existing between men and women in sports while also jokingly teasing Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani about his future wealth prospects.
Williams also acknowledged her friends Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who were in attendance at the event.