Serena Williams and family reportedly denied entry to French restaurant, hotel forced to issue apology

After it was claimed that former American tennis player Serena Williams was refused access to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, a posh Parisian hotel was compelled to issue an apology to Williams and her family.

“Hell no, @peninsulaparis I’ve been turned away from better establishments’ rooftops where I would have liked to eat, but never with my children. X Monday, Williams wrote, “Always a first.”

Since the beginning of the 2024 Olympics, Williams, 42, has been in Paris with her spouse Alexis Ohanian and their two daughters, Olympia, 6, and Adira, 10 months.

The four-time gold medallist at the Olympics participated in the torch relay this year, which carried the torch from the Seine to the Olympic Cauldron. Nadia Comăneci, Carl Lewis, and Rafael Nadal joined her throughout her section.

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 23: On June 23, 2024, in Paris, France, Serena Williams walks the runway at Vogue World: Paris at Place Vendome. (Image via Getty Images/Marc Piasecki for Vogue)

Williams tried to eat at the rooftop restaurant of the Peninsula Paris, a five-star hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower, after more than a week of games.

Williams, however, stated that despite what she described as a “empty restaurant,” she and her family were refused admittance when they arrived.

The Peninsula Paris extended their support to as many fans as possible.

Greetings, Mrs. WilliamsWe sincerely apologize for the disappointment you had this evening. The hotel’s answer was, “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was in fact fully booked and the only empty tables you saw belonged to our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully reserved.”

They said, “It has always been an honor to welcome you, and it will always be to welcome you again.”

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 14: On August 14, 2018, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, during the Western & Southern Open, Serena Williams (USA) reacts. (Image courtesy of Getty Images and Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire))

Many are unclear of how to interpret the hotel’s reaction, even if Williams has not yet responded. “You set up a table for her,” exclaimed some, while “She ought to apologize to your team,” held the opinion of others.

MAN FINDS A SMASHED PHONE ON THE ROADSIDE — AFTER HE INSERTS THE SIM CARD INTO HIS OWN PHONE AND CALLS “DAUGHTER,” HE RUSHES TO HELP.

The morning sun glinted off the dew-covered grass as Alan hurried down the street, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He had found an old, battered phone on the sidewalk, a relic from a bygone era. Curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he’d inserted the SIM card into his own phone. The call that followed had shattered his ordinary morning and thrust him into an unexpected role: rescuer.

“Julie, I’m coming to get you,” he had promised, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands.

Now, standing in front of the apartment building, a wave of apprehension washed over him. What would he find inside? What kind of danger had befallen this little girl?

He cautiously knocked on the door, his knuckles white. Silence. He knocked again, louder this time. Still, no answer.

Worried, Alan called the police. While he waited, he tried to peer through the windows, but the blinds were drawn. He imagined the little girl alone in the apartment, scared and helpless.

Finally, the police arrived, two officers with stern faces and concerned eyes. They listened to Alan’s story, their expressions growing grimmer by the second. After a brief discussion, they forced the door open.

The apartment was small and sparsely furnished, a poignant picture of a life lived in simplicity. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight piercing through the grimy window. But it was the silence that was most unsettling, a heavy, suffocating silence that seemed to amplify the ticking of his own heart.

Then, he saw her. Julie, curled up on a threadbare rug, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear. She looked smaller, more fragile than he had imagined.

One of the officers knelt beside her, his voice gentle, “Julie? Are you alright?”

Julie, her voice barely a whisper, nodded slowly.

The police officers, after assessing Julie’s condition, contacted child services. Alan, feeling a strange sense of responsibility, stayed with Julie, offering her a comforting smile and a reassuring pat on the head. He bought her a small stuffed animal from a nearby convenience store, the bright colors a stark contrast to the gloom that had settled over the apartment.

As he watched the ambulance pull away, carrying Julie to the hospital, Alan felt a strange sense of purpose. He had stumbled upon a situation he never could have anticipated, but he knew he couldn’t walk away.

He spent the next few days making calls, trying to find any information about Julie’s mother. He contacted local hospitals, checked missing persons reports, and scoured social media for any clues.

The search proved to be frustrating. Julie, it turned out, had been living with her mother in a homeless shelter before they moved into the apartment. There was no record of any family members.

But Alan wasn’t going to give up. He visited Julie every day at the hospital, bringing her books, drawing supplies, and stories. He became a constant presence in her life, a beacon of hope in the midst of uncertainty.

The days turned into weeks, and Julie slowly began to open up. She told him about her mother’s dreams of finding a stable home, of providing a better life for her daughter. She spoke of her mother’s love for nature, her passion for painting, and her infectious laughter.

As Julie recovered, Alan began to investigate further. He visited the homeless shelter, spoke to the staff, and learned about the challenges faced by homeless families. He discovered a network of organizations dedicated to helping children in need.

He wasn’t just a programmer anymore. He was an advocate, a protector, a beacon of hope for a child who had lost her way. And as he watched Julie smile, her eyes sparkling with a newfound joy, he realized that sometimes, the most unexpected paths led to the most meaningful destinations.

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