This Valentine’s Day, give her the best gift of all by being the kind of partner that Serena Williams has.
After the tennis legend’s surprise cameo at Sunday’s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance by Kendrick Lamar, the public had plenty to say.
Was it a rebuke to Williams’ former rumored romantic interest, Drake? A nod to the hate she received after celebrating her gold medal win at the 2012 Olympics with the same dance?
Whatever the reason (and like Lamar’s entire explosive halftime show, it was most likely layered), Williams saw both praise and blowback for the surprise appearance.
Shocking absolutely no one, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was in the latter camp. The famously opinionated sports commentator said, had he been married to Williams, he would have divorced her after the performance, as she was clearly still hung up on an ex.
Never mind that “If it were me, I would divorce this person” is a wild unsolicited take.
Never mind Smith himself is a noted bachelor who’s never been married.
What matters is the strength of Serena Williams’ own relationship, and thankfully, the state of that union is strong.
Since 2017, Williams has been married to Alexis Ohanian, an investor, women’s sports advocate, paternity leave advocate, and Reddit co-founder.
And guess what? He loved the performance. He also loudly, proudly, publicly loves his wife.
We’ve talked here about the new way to be a wife guy, and Ohanian is a poster boy for the movement.
Who would have thought the man who invented Reddit, the platform where good guys go to curdle into incel-curious monsters, would turn out to be such a mensch?
When more trolls online came for Ohanian, he was ready:
I get it—you’re 57, and life didn’t turn out the way you imagined. That kind of disappointment must be exhausting. You’re the embodiment of peaked in high school, spending decades chasing validation from strangers through Likes and Digital Hugs, only to find that no amount of…
— Alexis Ohanian 🗽 (@alexisohanian) February 11, 2025
Ohananian has since gotten back to business as usual online — posting updates about his investments in women’s sports, improving the quality of people’s lives through advancement in tech, and crypto.
And on that last one, well, nobody’s perfect.
The man is in love and unbothered. You love to see it!
The takeaway for guys from this Alexis Ohanian Stephen A. Smith spat?
You don’t have to be publicly defending your world-famous wife from online trolls or be a literal billionaire to lock in a great relationship.
Williams likely fell for Ohanian because he’s a stand-up guy who’s not afraid to share — or entirely cede — the spotlight to the woman in his life.
Because he knows his accomplishments aren’t diminished by those of his partner.
And yes, because he makes his kids pancake art every weekend, and holds an umbrella for his wife.
Ohaninan snagged a catch like Serena Williams because he loves her out loud and bursting with pride.
The takeaway for you? Don’t wait for your girlfriend or wife to make a surprise cameo at the Super Bowl to love her the way Ohanian clearly loves Williams.
Support her when she puts herself out there. For anything! When she goes for the promotion at work she’s not entirely sure she’s qualified (spoiler: she definitely is).
When she takes a night class to learn a new skill. Or stands up to her toxic friend who alwyas drains her energy and never asks her questions about her own life.
Talk her up to your mom when she’s in the room.
Be her biggest cheerleader.
In a world of Stephen A. Smith’s, be an Alexis Ohanian.
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image: @serenawilliams
