After Serena Williams claimed the restaurant was empty and she was refused entry, the Paris restaurant retaliates.

A five-star restaurant in Paris Serena Williams, the tennis champion, was met with backlash from The Peninsula when she said she was turned away and called the place “empty.”

The 23-time grand slam champion tennis player, Serena Williams, shared a tweet on Twitter when she and her family were in Paris for the Olympics. X dragged the eatery for allegedly unfairly turning her away. To her astounding 10.3 million Twitter and X followers, Serena Williams shared. “Hell no, @peninsulaparis I’ve been turned away from better restaurants’ rooftops when I wanted to eat, but never with my kids. Constantly a first.

Serena Williams said she was refused entry to an empty restaurant, and The Peninsula Paris promptly provided her with a statement in response. The hotel and restaurant were tweeted about. To Mrs. Williams, We sincerely apologize for the disappointment you had this evening. Regretfully, our rooftop bar was completely reserved, and the few empty tables you observed belonged to our fine dining establishment, L’Oiseau Blanc.

It has always been an honor to greet you, and it will continue to be so when you return. Paris Peninsula.

There have been differing reactions to Serena Williams’ tweet and the Paris Peninsula. The more scathing critics have said that “this is why people hate Americans abroad,” arguing that being a well-known sports hero does not automatically guarantee you a seat at a packed restaurant. Others have argued that, given Serena Williams’ identity, the restaurant ought to have made accommodations for her.