Tennis superstar and world’s greatest athlete Serena Williams graces the cover of August’s Vanity Fair naked and pregnant. Of course, people are responding.
Williams and the magazine tweeted out the cover, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Tuesday morning, asking Twitter whether they think it’s a boy or a girl.
She is set to have a baby with her fiance, co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian.
Check out my Vanity Fair Cover. Question- what do u guys think boy or girl? I'm waiting to find out but would love to hear your thoughts. pic.twitter.com/Nnq4VKCu8N
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) June 27, 2017
Many praised the cover, calling it “powerful” and “breathtaking.” It also bears resemblance with the famous Demi Moore Vanity Fair cover, where the actress also posed naked and pregnant.
https://twitter.com/ZerboJulie/status/879676522050748417
Serena Williams for Vanity Fair. Breathtaking ✨ pic.twitter.com/x79w397jw7
— Cyn Santana (@Cyn_Santana) June 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/hunteryharris/status/879690268878008321
Serena Williams won her 23rd grand slam while pregnant. Helluva Vanity Fair cover 5 months later, Demi Moore-style. https://t.co/kB9i6j2G9p pic.twitter.com/9d17gsWpwf
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 27, 2017
SHOOKETH! Serena Williams for @VanityFair. pic.twitter.com/hRjAa7FiCp
— Tre’vell Anderson (@TrevellAnderson) June 27, 2017
However, the cover has an added message. Many see it as a response to comments made over the weekend that undermined her achievements.
The photo shoot comes after former tennis great John McEnroe’s weekend interview with NPR, claiming that she’d only “rank like 700 in the world” if she competed against men.
“Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based,” tweeted Williams.
Because of this timing, many people used the photo reveal as additional evidence to support Williams’ excellence. Not only is she the best tennis player around, but she won a recent tournament — the Australian Open — while pregnant.
Number of tennis tournaments won by Serena Williams while pregnant: 1.
Number of tennis tournaments won by John McEnroe while pregnant: 0.
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) June 27, 2017
Serena Williams is perhaps the most dominant player to ever pick up a racket. I don't understand why this is even a discussion.
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) June 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/riotglasses/status/879706737523265536
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/879704181581504513
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/879710204178378752