Serena Williams owns homes in California and Florida and an apartment in Paris, and I’m pretty sure she’s primarily based out of Florida. My point is that she stays in hotels whenever she’s in New York. These days, she’s mostly in New York for business, which is what happened this week. Three years after her retirement, Serena is still associated with Nike, one of her biggest sponsors when she was a tennis player. I would assume that Nike still pays Serena, even in retirement, just to get her to show up for certain Nike events. This week’s Nike event was the launch of Nike’s collaboration with SKIMS, Kim Kardashian’s brand. Well, Nike put Serena up in a hotel, and Serena did NOT like the hotel’s decor. She especially hated the vase holding the branches from a cotton plant.
Serena Williams spoke out after noticing a questionable decoration at a New York City hotel. Williams, 43, took to social media with a video of the decor, a vase holding a cotton plant on a table in the hallway, and asked her followers for their thoughts about the display. “Alright, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?”
“Personally for me, it doesn’t feel great,” Williams said in her Instagram Stories on Thursday, Sept. 25.
In a second post, the tennis star is speaking to the camera and holding a piece of the cotton used in the decoration. Williams tells viewers it “feels like nail polish remover cotton” and touches it before cringing and exiting the frame.
Williams’ trip to New York City included an appearance at a SKIMS event in support of her appearance in the brand’s film, Bodies at Work, which promotes their new collaboration with Nike. Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles, Chloe Kim, Madisen Skinner, Romane Dicko, Beatriz Hatz and Nelly Korda are all part of the new campaign for NikeSKIMS alongside Williams.
This is currently a huge controversy on People’s site and there are over 1,100 comments debating whether or not “cotton plant branches” are appropriate decor in 2025. Keep in mind, Serena didn’t even say the thing, she didn’t say “this makes me uncomfortable because of America’s history with the slavery and the cotton industry.” She just left it open to stir debate. And now right-wingers are sobbing because Serena just… asked the question and expressed some dismay. Honestly, I wouldn’t bat an eye at a cotton-plant display as decor, because those displays are very common in the South, both in residences and businesses. That doesn’t make it right, and I feel like… sure, let’s talk about it and whether it’s appropriate.
Serena Williams questions cotton branches as decor pic.twitter.com/TcNCT6TJx7
— Kaiser@Celebitchy (@KaiseratCB) September 26, 2025
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- New York City, NY Serena Williams poses for pictures at the NikeSKIMS | Bodies at Work launch celebration at Nike House of Innovation in New York City. Pictured: Serena Williams BACKGRID USA 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York City, NY Serena Williams poses for pictures at the NikeSKIMS | Bodies at Work launch celebration at Nike House of Innovation in New York City. Pictured: Serena Williams BACKGRID USA 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Serena Williams, Pink Pantheress, Gayle King, Sabrina Elba, and other VIP guests gathered at Four Twenty Five restaurant in New York City for the exclusive NikeSKIMS launch dinner. Pictured: Serena Williams BACKGRID USA 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
I can understand that people may have a problem with them that goes back to a horrible history with the plant and that’s their right to feel that way. I find it just ugly to use cotton as any kind of decoration .
Seems kind of strange when there are so many beautiful kinds of white flower.
It’s not that strange in a diverse city like NYC. Cotton blossoms have been grown all over the world for centuries, and lots of cultures have strong positive associations. In a lot of East Asia, cotton blossoms are a common symbol of good fortune and hope. In others, they symbolize purity and new beginnings. And they’re considered beautiful, sustainable floral decor that lasts much longer than most cut flowers. For all we know, the hotel and floral aesthetic was designed in one of those contexts, influenced by or celebrating one of those cultures.
That doesn’t negate the horrors of chattel slavery. But it does recontextualize their use as a floral decoration outside of the American South.
Oh Lordy. We’re about to get think pieces on conservatives defending cotton as decor now aren’t we? Where’s Megan Kelley?
You’re right! I think these days they just try to find out anything to argue with people that have different thoughts than them. Basically because most people that aren’t Maga don’t deal with them and they won’t attention so they will attack her. I don’t understand they got everything they wanted and they still want to bitch at people.
Just judging by People Magazine’s comment section, their audience tends to skew conservative so I’m not surprised by the reaction. I think it’s a good question to ask for many reasons.
I only recently noticed cotton plants in displays like this. I think I saw it on Pinterest and thought this particular combination looked pretty, though not to everyone’s taste. While I understand it’s horrible associations I don’t think it should be verboten as decor, depending on the context. It’s not like I don’t WEAR cotton? I wear it all the time and I don’t plan to stop. It would seem hypocritical of me to disapprove of the plant in a vase when I wear on my actual body.
It looks like it was chosen to go with the color scheme, brown and white. And a contrasting texture. But if it bothers people, don’t use it any more. So many other things can be put in a vase.
There are just so many more important things.
No. This is important. Most of us can prioritize lots of important things and hold space for what is offensive to others.
Context is key here. If she was in a hotel with a plantation theme (which is problematic), and they were talking about their legacy regarding cotton, yes, that would be an issue.
But a random cotton plant as decoration to fit a color palette? No. It’s just simply not a problem.
Does it remind you of darker things in our history? It might, but why silence that? History exists.
It’s a bad look for the hotel! Come on! Shame shame shame!
Is it though? In NYC? Really?
Or is it really America’s tendency to ignore our history, brush negative things under the rug, AND this administrations particular desire to ignore our terrible history? Because I see what the cotton represents here, but it seems to me that the cotton isn’t the actual problem. It’s just indicative of other systemic issues that we, as a country, refuse to address.
So sure, put the cotton decoration away, if it will make you feel better for the moment. But doing that sure isn’t going to solve anything.
@starwonderful REALLY Though? I bet you Serena has 100% cotton items in her home. The plant is not the A-hole.
I love Serena and fully support her right to feel how she feels about the history of cotton farming and using cotton as decor. The enslavement of human beings to produce cotton (and sugar, rice, etc…) is a stain on our nation.
But, farmers still grow cotton in the US, and cotton is a natural, breathable and biodegradable fabric. There are multiple certification programs for farmers to ensure that cotton is grown ethically and sustainably, and you can look for those at retailers if you are interested. (Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), US Cotton Trust Protocol).
Serena made this video at an event where she was being paid to promote clothing made out of polyester and other fabrics made from petroleum that are contributing to microplastic pollution throughout our environment and our bodies. It’s possible it was a coincidence, but it’s possible it wasn’t. I’m certainly not saying Serena herself is responsible for microplastic pollution and am happy she has lucrative endorsement deals. But it seems possible that she might have multiple motivations for making comments about cotton in this instance.
I think the point is–cotton fabric is a reality. Casually decorating with it is where the tension comes in.
But we still decorate with poppy flowers, despite the history of opium, heroin, and the ongoing opioid crisis. And that isn’t controversial, because people love the aesthetic beauty of poppies. Just like some people love the natural aesthetic of cotton plants.
And different cultures have different meanings for it. In Korea, cotton blossoms mean good fortune and hope. In the florists language of flowers, they mean purity and new beginnings. For all we know — especially in NYC — the florist was from one of dozens of cultures that have used cotton blossoms in displays for centuries.
It’s also a reality that all cotton fabric starts out as a cotton plant. It feels like cotton balls because cotton balls are just ginned cotton. That grows from a seed into a plant.
I read an opinion piece about this a few years ago, before Covid, where the writer had gone in to a store that was devoted to 100% cotton apparel. They had giant vases of cotton branches with bolls. She spoke to the manager about the painful history of cotton. It was really food for thought for me–I made NO correlation to it on my own prior.
We all learn. I was scolded recently for saying “grandfathered in”. The person subsequently mentioned our company “picnic” so I got to return the favor, without the scolding part…I won’t say I didn’t take a little amusement in it. Bigger picture is “let’s learn” and be gracious about the opportunity.
Just so you know, there’s actually nothing wrong with the word picnic, that’s been thoroughly debunked…
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/picnic-origin/
It’s a bit stupid to say that she didn’t “say the thing” as quoted in the article, because it’s so heavily implied by her.
Case in point, ppl disagreeing with her are called “right wing”. If the debate is not about this, why do you think someone disagreeing with her taste in home decor should be called right wing?
She’s just looking for controversy.
Honestly, Serena is kind of used to this kind of things. Amongst other things, she was sulking online when she couldn’t get a table in he middle of the Paris Olympics (without any reservations) when the entire restaurant had been privatised for the evening…
This kind of thing is the reason Democrats are losing.
What’s more important is Trump’s administration forcing the National Park Service + Smithsonian to remove real history markers/web-stories + photos dealing with slavery and the banning of library books dealing with the topic.
(look up the recent story where they took down photos of the whip-scarred back of a former slave at a historical plantation.)
In NC, cotton is an important crop today, our state’s 4th biggest. My neighbor travels all over the world helping people learn better methods of growing cotton. It’s used in lots of ways: besides making natural clothing that breathes and is comfortable, cotton also produces cottonseed oil, used for cooking, cosmetics, soaps, and even insecticide. The meal is rich in protein and is used for animal feed and rich fertilizer. The hulls provide fiber for animal feed, and even the linters are used for making paper and cellulose! I’m so sorry her only association with cotton is slavery, because it’s a wonderful plant that helps many people (unlike tobacco).