• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Serena Williams' controversial weight-loss drug Super Bowl commercial branded 'disgusting'

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 14:58 9 Feb 2026 GMT

Serena Williams' controversial weight-loss drug Super Bowl commercial branded 'disgusting'

People have called out the tennis star for promoting GLP-1 medications

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/RO

Topics: Celebrity, Super Bowl, US News, Health, Sport

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Serena Williams has caught some flack on social media after promoting a weight-loss drug in a new commercial that was featured during the Super Bowl.

There are seemingly three sorts of people who are excited for the Super Bowl: Those who are interested in the game, those who are interested in the halftime performance, and those who are excited for the commercials.

Wen it comes to the Super Bowl, there is almost an expectation for a company to pull out their best advertisement. People even regularly discuss what is the best ad each year, and what some of the best commercials have been.

It seems one of them this year, which featured tennis super star Serena Williams, won’t be featured on any of these lists, however...

Advert

Serena Williams has collaborated with Ro, a company that provides GLP-1 drugs for weight loss (Ro)
Serena Williams has collaborated with Ro, a company that provides GLP-1 drugs for weight loss (Ro)

In the ad, Williams is promoting Ro, a GLP-1 drug that helps people to lose weight, with the athlete saying: "It's not a shortcut. It's science."

She goes on to say: "I’m on Ro, 34 pounds down on GLP-1, healthier on Ro, supported on Ro. FDA approved GLP-1 options, now even in a pill, weight loss expertise I trust.

“I’m moving better on Ro, I’m feeling better on Ro, I am Serena Williams, this is me on Ro."

The ad didn’t go down particularly well on social media, with many people discussing the issues they have with it with on X.

One user said: “Serena Williams pushing weight loss drugs.... disgusting.”

Another said: “The GLP-1 commercials are absolutely disgusting.

“They target not only obese people but also those with perfectly healthy (looking bodies). That’s why they feature Serena Williams in their Super Bowl ad- to show that even a non-overweight athlete uses the drug.

“Its a vanity drug that promotes unhealthy eating habits with a ‘quick fix’ weight loss injection or pill.”

The tennis player's endorsement of weight loss drugs has sparked a debate online (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
The tennis player's endorsement of weight loss drugs has sparked a debate online (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

A third added: “I thought that was weird. She played professionally for 20 years and now she needs to lose 30? I do not get it.”

While another wrote: “It's pretty damn gross when she could be an advocate for healthy eating. What will she do with all that money? Buy more food that she can't eat!????”

And another disappointed user added: “We are over-medicalizing problems caused by bad food, bad habits, and bad systems. Serena should at best be advertising sneakers, sports shoes than syringes.”

UNILAD has contacted Serena Williams’ representatives for comment.

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • Kevin Winter/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Jennifer Lopez makes surprising admission about 'really tough' Marc Anthony divorce

    Lopez revealed her thoughts on the 2014 divorce on stage in Las Vegas

    Celebrity
  • Samir Hussein/WireImage
    4 hours ago

    Ballet and opera companies slam Timothée Chalamet over controversial 'no one cares' remark

    The Marty Supreme star made the comments last month

    Celebrity
  • Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for 20th Century Studios
    5 hours ago

    Jamie Lee Curtis explains why she thought her career was over after Freaky Friday

    The actress brought up her famous parents and their careers in Hollywood

    Celebrity
  • Aeon/GC Images
    7 hours ago

    Kim Kardashian faces fresh backlash over puppy photo after PETA criticism

    The SKIMS mogul gave her four children each a Pomeranian puppy for Christmas

    Celebrity
  • Ring doorbell makes huge change after Super Bowl commercial was branded ‘dystopian’ with ‘terrifying’ new feature
  • How much a Super Bowl commercial costs in 2026 as ad rates hit eye-popping record
  • Serena Williams divides fans as she reveals unexpected benefits of using GLP-1 weight loss medication
  • Ring doorbell Super Bowl commercial branded ‘dystopian’ as they showcase 'terrifying' new feature