Serena Williams found herself in the spotlight for two very different reasons recently, and she handled both with the kind of confidence you’d expect from a 23-time Grand Slam champion. The retired tennis legend appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for the weight loss brand Ro, promoting GLP-1 medications and openly crediting them for her physical transformation over the past year. The ad sparked an immediate wave of backlash across social media, with fans and critics alike expressing their disappointment over seeing one of the greatest athletes in history endorse a weight loss drug. Rather than issuing a lengthy statement or sitting out the storm, the 44-year-old chose a far more expressive response.
Shortly after the controversy erupted, Williams posted a TikTok video of herself working out on a pole, captioning it: “Getting back to training on my two favorite pieces of equipment.” The clip quickly accumulated thousands of reactions and was widely interpreted as a direct, unbothered answer to her online critics. It was a move very much in keeping with her character, turning a moment of public criticism into a showcase of strength, confidence, and a healthy sense of humor. The video spread rapidly and reignited conversation about the ad, her transformation, and the broader debate around celebrity endorsements of weight loss medications.
The criticism itself came from multiple directions. Some fans accused Williams of “pushing weight loss drugs,” while others expressed deep disappointment that what they called “the greatest tennis player of all time” had chosen to align herself with Ozempic-adjacent products. Adding to the frustration was the fact that rumors had been circulating before the Super Bowl suggesting that Serena might use the commercial to tease a sensational return to professional tennis. Instead, audiences were greeted with a health and wellness advertisement, which for some made the letdown feel that much sharper.
@serena I’m back to training on my 2 favorite devices.
♬ Check On It Bounce – ARNETT
Williams had become the face of Ro after a personal journey she has spoken about openly. She revealed in an interview with People in August 2025 that she struggled significantly with her weight following the birth of her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August 2023. She began GLP-1 therapy in 2024, after she had finished breastfeeding. “I couldn’t achieve my desired weight no matter what I did or how much I trained,” she shared. “It was crazy because I’ve never been in a situation where I worked so hard, ate healthy, and couldn’t reach the weight I wanted.” Over the course of roughly a year, she lost more than 31 pounds.
She was also eager to make clear that choosing this path did not represent a departure from her lifelong values as a competitor. “During my career I never took shortcuts and always worked hard. I know what it takes to be the best. That’s why it was so frustrating to do everything the same as before and see no change on the scale or in my body appearance,” she told People. By the time summer 2025 arrived, she was feeling noticeably different. “I feel great, healthy, light both physically and mentally,” she said, describing the results of the treatment.
The public reaction to celebrity endorsements of GLP-1 drugs has been a recurring conversation in recent years, touching on questions of body image, accessibility, and what it means for a high-profile athlete to publicly use pharmaceutical assistance for weight management. Williams is far from the only celebrity to wade into this territory, but given her status as one of the most iconic athletes in the world, her involvement drew an unusually intense response. The pole dancing video, which many interpreted as a statement about physical capability and self-assurance, seemed to land exactly where she intended it to.
For those less familiar with the medications at the center of this story, GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of drugs originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide, marketed under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, works by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar and appetite, leading to reduced food intake and, for many users, significant weight loss. The medications have surged in popularity over the past several years and are now widely prescribed for weight management in addition to diabetes care. Their rise has coincided with growing cultural debate about the ethics of pharmaceutical weight loss solutions and the medical situations in which they are most appropriate.
Serena Williams retired from professional tennis in September 2022, concluding a career that spanned more than two decades and included 23 Grand Slam singles titles, making her the most decorated tennis player of the Open Era at the time of her retirement. She is also known for her business ventures and advocacy work, and she has consistently used her platform to speak candidly about her personal experiences, including pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and the physical challenges that come with life after elite competition. Her openness about the GLP-1 journey fits within that long-established pattern of public honesty.
Whether you think Serena was right to front the Ro campaign or believe she should have steered clear of the weight loss drug conversation entirely, share your thoughts in the comments.
