Serena Williams Opens Up About Harassment Incident at Shopping Mall: “I Still Shudder When I Talk About It”

Tennis icon Serena Williams has opened up about a disturbing personal experience that occurred during what should have been a routine shopping trip. In a candid interview published Tuesday, Williams revealed that she was harassed by a stranger while standing in line to pay at a high-end retail store inside a shopping mall.

“It was one of the most unsettling moments I’ve ever experienced,” Williams said. “To this day, I still shudder when I talk about it.”

According to Williams, the incident occurred several months ago, but she only recently felt ready to share it publicly. She described being followed through the store by a man who made repeated inappropriate comments and stood unusually close to her despite multiple attempts to create distance.

“At first, I thought maybe I was overreacting. But as I moved to different parts of the store, he kept following me,” she recalled. “And when I got in line to pay, he got right behind me. I could feel his breath on my neck.”

Williams said she made eye contact with a store employee, silently signaling that something was wrong. Fortunately, the staff quickly picked up on the situation and intervened, asking the man to step aside. Security was later called to escort the individual out of the store.

“I was lucky,” Williams said. “The staff were alert and respectful. But I kept thinking: what if I wasn’t Serena Williams? What if I was someone no one recognized?”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion said the experience left her deeply shaken and more aware of the everyday harassment women often face—especially in public places.

“This isn’t just about me. So many women go through this kind of thing all the time and are made to feel like they’re being ‘too sensitive’ or ‘paranoid,’” she said. “It’s exhausting. It’s humiliating. And it’s real.”

The tennis star’s story has already sparked widespread reaction online, with fans and fellow athletes voicing support and praising her for speaking out.

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles reposted the interview with the caption: “Thank you for your honesty, Serena. You’re helping so many women feel seen.”

Williams emphasized that the incident is part of a larger issue about safety, boundaries, and the way public spaces often fail to protect women from harassment.

“I’m sharing this now not for sympathy, but because I want people to understand—this can happen to anyone, anywhere,” she said. “We need better systems, better awareness, and we need to listen when someone says, ‘I’m uncomfortable.’”

While the experience remains painful, Williams said it has only deepened her commitment to advocating for women’s safety and dignity.

“I’ve faced plenty of challenges on the court,” she added. “But the ones off the court—those are the battles that stay with you.”