Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Serena Williams Claps Back At 'The New York Times' After They Use Venus' Photo Instead Of Hers

Serena Williams Claps Back At 'The New York Times' After They Use Venus' Photo Instead Of Hers
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images; PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images; PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Pro tennis player and successful business entrepreneur, Serena Williams, raised $111 million for her new venture fund "Serena Ventures."

But what should have been a celebratory headline for an impressive accomplishment was overshadowed when The New York Times reported on the story but featured a photo of her older sister, Venus Williams–a tennis legend in her own right.


The news outlet didn't even mention Serena by name in their headline.

The headline read:

“Tennis Star’s Venture Firm Has Raised $111 Million."

On Tuesday, Serena–once ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for 319 weeks and known as one of the greatest athletes of all time–tweeted her disappointment over the lack of progress against racial bias after becoming a casualty of a news outlet mixing up Black people.

She wrote:

"No matter how far we come, we get reminded that it's not enough."
"This is why I raised $111M for @serenaventures."
"To support the founders who are overlooked by engrained systems woefully unaware of their biases."
"Because even I am overlooked. You can do better, @nytimes."

Her tweet included a photo of the NYT article with the photo of Venus labeled "Serena Williams."

@serenawilliams/Twitter


People on social media understood her frustration.




In response to the backlash, The New York Times tweeted, "This was our mistake" and they faulted the gaffe "to an error when selecting photos for the print edition."

The newspaper confirmed the incorrect photo did not appear in their article online and ensured the error would be rectified the next day.


People noted the lack of an apology.

Despite the newspaper's response, many people still found the error inexcusable.

They also questioned if proper vetting was involved before the paper went to print.






A review of the photo on image source Getty Images however may shed more light on the issue.

Two photos of Venus Williams' February 27, 2022 arrival at the SAG Awards were misidentified as Serena Williams.

When the error was discovered or corrected—before or after the NYT gaffe—and by which entity—the photographer, AFP or Getty Images—is unclear.

But the photo used by The New York Times is one of these two previously mislabeled photos.

Getty Images.com

Getty Images.com


Serena Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested in founders with "diverse points of view," including fintechs Propel, Cointracker, and edtech Masterclass, among many others, according to Reuters.

Alison Rapaport, who has previously worked at J.P. Morgan, Wasserman, and Melo7Tech Ventures, leads the company along with Williams.

According to their blog, Serena Ventures has raised an inaugural fund of $111M to continue "pursuing their mission," which is to "unlock value for investors, doors for founders, and opportunities for everyone to live better."

CNN listed examples of news outlets often miscrediting African Americans, including a KTLA journalist who apologized after mistaking actor Samuel L. Jackson for fellow actor, Laurence Fishburne, in a 2014 interview.

The media outlet also noted that in 2018, Fox News apologized after erroneously using a photo of singer Patti LaBelle in a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.

More from Trending

Sophie Turner attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of the 2025 Paris Fashion Week.
Marc Piasecki/WireImage via Getty Images

Sophie Turner shuts down troll

Sophie Turner is not here for your unsolicited parenting advice.

The Game of Thrones queen—literally and figuratively—recently posted an Instagram photo and video carousel from a night out at an Oasis concert, rocking a bucket hat and a beer in hand.

Keep ReadingShow less
"Weird Al" Yankovic; Chappell Roan
John Nacion/Getty Images For Paramount Pictures; Adrian Edwards/GC Images

Weird Al Hilariously Reacts After Google Alert Mixes Him Up With Chappell Roan

As household names go, Chappell Roan is still relatively new on the scene, so your grandma can be forgiven for not exactly knowing who she is.

But Google? Knowing everything is kind of its whole thing!

Keep ReadingShow less
Reneé Rapp; Joe Rogan
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Apple Music; Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Men Are Up In Arms After Reneé Rapp Hilariously Admits She Has No Idea Who Joe Rogan Is

In a recent interview with Alex Cooper for the podcast Call Her Daddy, actor, singer, and songwriter Reneé Rapp admitted she didn't know who an extremely popular right-wing figure was.

Maybe it's a generational thing, as Rapp is only 25 years old. The person she didn't know was 58-year-old Joe Rogan.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of JD Vance
Fox News

Vance Blasted After Making Gaslighting Claim About How Tariffs Are Actually Helping 'Average Americans'

Vice President JD Vance was quickly called out after he claimed in a Fox News interview focused on President Donald Trump's tariffs that tariffs will actually lead to "tax relief" for Americans.

Vance spoke as Trump continues to leave countries reeling over his chaotic tariff policies; he just announced, for example, yet another 90-day pause on sweeping tariffs on China. The Chinese government said they hope the move will lead to "positive outcomes" for China and the U.S.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Vladimir Putin
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Contributor/Getty Images

Trump Sparks Concern After Repeatedly Confusing Alaska With Russia Ahead Of Putin Meeting

President Donald Trump turned heads on Monday after he repeatedly claimed he's going to "Russia" on Friday—very openly confusing the country with the state of Alaska, the actual location where he plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for a highly anticipated summit.

Trump made the mix-up during a press conference about crime in Washington, D.C., where he has already moved to federalize the police and deploy the National Guard, citing inflated crime statistics that compared D.C. to Baghdad and Brasilia.

Keep ReadingShow less