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Serena Williams speaks out after uncomfortable moment finding cotton plant decoration at NYC hotel
Home>News>US News
Updated 16:30 26 Sep 2025 GMT+1Published 15:21 26 Sep 2025 GMT+1

Serena Williams speaks out after uncomfortable moment finding cotton plant decoration at NYC hotel

Williams asked her fans what they thought

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

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Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@serenawilliams

Topics: Celebrity, News, US News, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian

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.

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Serena Williams was in an NYC hotel and seemed to take issue with a cotton plant decoration she found in the hallway.

Tennis superstar Serena Williams was in New York to honor the release of Kim Kardashian’s Skims collaboration with Nike.

On her Instagram page, Williams shared snaps of her with Kim as well Khloe and congratulated them on the success of the brand.

She wrote: “Back with my girls for one epic night! Over 20 years of friendship and we still laugh like no one else is in the room. Congratulations on your NikeSkims success!”

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However, the star also shared on her page that she came across something that made her uncomfortable.

Sharing a video on her Instagram story, she highlighted a cotton plant decoration that was sitting on a table.

Williams was in New York and congratulated the Kardashian on their collaboration with Nike (Serena Williams/Instagram)
Williams was in New York and congratulated the Kardashian on their collaboration with Nike (Serena Williams/Instagram)

As she approached the decoration she said: “Alright everyone - how do we feel about cotton as decoration? Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great.”

In another clip she is seen touching the plant and inspecting it further, realizing that it was fake she told the person holding her camera that it feels like nail polish remover cotton, "natural."

She then rubbed some of the buds on her nails and shuddered before stepping out of view.

It is not clear whether Williams took issue simply with the feel of the plant or due to its historic ties to slavery in the US.

The retired star also did not name which hotel she was in when she came across the decoration and it isn’t clear whether Williams came across the plant before or after meeting the Kardashians.

Some people on social media have almost shrugged their shoulders to William’s concern over the plant, simply highlighting that many goods and clothes are made from cotton.

Williams admitted that the plant being there 'didn't feel great' (Serena Williams/Instagram)
Williams admitted that the plant being there 'didn't feel great' (Serena Williams/Instagram)

Some of Williams’ fans have also grown concerned for the star after she left a cryptic message on social media and alluded to some difficulty in her life.

On September 16, she said: “Dearest gentle reader, My summer started out well but I was plunged into a difficult August. Like many of you, I faced challenges that tested my spirit and resilience.

“Life can sometimes feel overwhelming and it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters—your mental health and well-being.

“I took some time away to breathe, to reconnect with myself, and to remember that it’s perfectly okay to pause and reconnect.”

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