Serena Williams Reveals Why Her Dad Refused to Walk Her Down The Aisle Just an Hour Before Wedding
In a lavish ceremony in November 2017, one of the world’s most successful tennis players, Serena Williams, married Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian. On her special day, Serena, walked down the aisle alone even though her father is alive and they have a cordial relationship. The mum of one now explains why.
According to SunUK, the mother-of-one said that just one hour before her wedding, she received a text from her father, Richard Williams, saying he wouldn’t be accompanying her down the aisle on her big day.
In her new HBO documentary called Being Serena, the tennis superstar said her father and former longtime coach told her in the message that he didn’t feel comfortable giving her away.
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Serena explains in the documentary:
“He was in New Orleans, he had a suit, and I know he was really excited. But then he wrote me and said, ‘Serena, I don’t want you to be mad at me, but I just can’t walk you down the aisle. I’m not myself anymore. I’m just too nervous.'”
But Serena wasn’t angry with her dad and didn’t panic, instead, she remained calm and completely supportive of his decision. She replied:
“Daddy, it’s okay, if you don’t want to come to the wedding at all, that’s okay too. I’m not going to be upset with you about it, so I don’t want you to be upset about it.”
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Serena added that some people may have reacted differently, but she knows the struggles her dad, who suffered a stroke in 2016, has been through over the last few years.
“Maybe a lot of daughters wouldn’t react the same way, but I know the struggles [Richard] has had these last few years,” Williams said.
“His health is better now, but I know he still doesn’t feel like himself. He doesn’t feel like he’s perfect. If he doesn’t want to be out there in front of a lot of people, I completely understand.”
She said what was important was that her close family understood their bond.
”If he doesn’t want to be up there in front of a lot of people, I completely understand. Look, when we first came on the scene, there were a lot of people who didn’t get him.
I don’t think a lot of them wanted to get him. I don’t think a lot of him could have anyway. Our family knows what we have.
We just want each other to be happy. That’s what matters. I don’t think anything could ever change that.”
Her revelation comes as American actress Meghan Markle‘s dad pulled out of walking her down the aisle at this weekend’s Royal Wedding to Prince Harry.
READ ALSO: Family Drama as Meghan Markle’s Brother Begs Prince Harry to Call Off The Wedding
Reports say Thomas Markle, 73, had decided not to attend the marriage of his daughter to the prince, who is Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, due to his health. Thomas, according to sources, underwent a successful surgery last night after suffering a dangerous heart attack believed to be brought on by stress.
“He was upset. He wanted to go. But his doctor had the overruling opinion he needed surgery. So he’s smart enough to know, ‘This is life-threatening’.
“It’s all been so heartbreaking and now my father’s in surgery,” Meghan’s sister said last night.
“Staying in the hospital a few more days. Not allowed to get excited,” Meghan’s dad told reporters.
Photo credit: Instagram/Getty Images
Awwwwwwwwww.