Serena responds to Ilie Natase, a former tennis player from Romania, who made offensive racial comments about her unborn baby at a press conference last Saturday.
Nastase was overheard at Friday’s press conference speaking on Williams’ unborn baby, “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?”
The world number one tennis player, Serena Williams, who is a soon to be wife and mother, made a public statement, hitting back at the Romanian Fed cup captain, accusing him of racially abusing her and her unborn baby and hurling sexist abuse at her fellow female tennis players.
He was also called out for displaying sexism and disrespectful remarks about other female players. It is understood that he asked British team captain Anne Keothavong for her room number.
When the play got under way in Constanta on Saturday, Nastase was heard to have called Keothavong and Johanna Konta ”f****** b…..s”in a rant which has led to his provisional suspension by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Serena responds to Natase in a rather mature and intelligent manner, which was to the delight of everyone on Instagram who read her post thoroughly.
“It disappoints me to know we live in a society where people like Ilie Nastase can make such racist comments toward myself and [an] unborn child, and sexist comments against my peers,” she wrote in a note posted to Instagram. “I have said it once and I’ll say it again, this world has come so far, yet we have so much further to go. Yes, we have broken down barriers—however, there are a plethora more to go. This or anything else will not stop me from pouring love, light, and positivity into everything I do. I will continue to take a lead and stand up for what’s right.”
An investigation is now being launched by the ITF, in reference to the comments made by Natasse.
“The ITF does not tolerate discriminatory and offensive language and behavior of any kind. We are aware of alleged comments made by Romanian captain Ilie Nastase and have begun an immediate investigation so that we have the full facts of the situation before taking further and appropriate action,” said the organization in a report.
“Still I Rise.” She wrote, “I am not afraid unlike you. You see, I am no coward. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? You may shoot me with your words…you may try to kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air, I rise,” were the beautiful words by Dr. Maya Angelou, repeated by Serena in her posts.
