Peninsula apologies for turning away Serena Williams, says restaurant was fully booked
- Tennis great says she and her family were denied spot at rooftop restaurant by luxury establishment in Paris
A luxury hotel has apologised to tennis great Serena Williams after she complained on Monday about being turned away from its restaurant, in a social media post seen by millions.
Williams, who is in France for the Olympic Games, said she had been unable to get a seat for herself and her family at a rooftop restaurant at the Peninsula Paris, part of the luxury chain that includes its flagship establishment in Hong Kong.
“Yikes @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to rooftop to eat in an empty restaurant of nicer places but never with my kids. Always a first,” Williams said on X.
Williams, a four-times Olympic gold medallist, was one of the Olympic flame’s torch-bearers during the Paris Games’ opening ceremony. She is also among celebrities who have come out to see US gymnastics star Simone Biles compete in the Games.
Her post was seen by more than 4 million people and some of the responses to William’s post were supportive, saying it was unacceptable that the restaurant did not make room for her.
Others said celebrities had no more right to a fully booked restaurant than anyone else.
