Serena Williams’ Husband Drops Absurd Excuse for Partying With Trump

Key Points:

• Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, husband of Serena Williams, faced backlash for attending President Trump’s 80th birthday UFC event at the White House, which was marred by a fighter’s offensive slur against Michelle Obama.
• Ohanian issued a delayed statement condemning the slur and explained his attendance as an invitation from TKO/IMG leadership, noting he was leaving before the comment was made and highlighting his resignation from Reddit to combat hate content.
• Social media users criticized Ohanian for attending the event, accusing him of poor judgment given his family’s background and the political climate surrounding the Trump administration.
• Other public figures, including comedians Nate Bargatze and Shane Gillis, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and the Zac Brown Band, also faced significant criticism for their participation or association with the event.
• The event, intended to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary early, was widely viewed as a politically charged spectacle coinciding with Trump’s birthday, drawing controversy for both its timing and the behavior of attendees.