Serena Williams Draws Heavy Backlash for Promoting Weight-Loss Drug in Super Bowl Ad – “This is Truly Sad”

After struggling to lose weight post two pregnancies, Serena Williams turned to a weight-loss drug and lost 15kg.

Serena Williams Draws Heavy Backlash for Promoting Weight-Loss Drug in Super Bowl Ad – “This is Truly Sad”

Serena Williams lost 15kg after using weight-loss drug (Image via X/Serena Williams, Vigilant Fox)

Serena Williams has been quite vocal about her difficulty in losing weight after giving birth to her second daughter, Adira River, in 2023. Williams said that despite a disciplined lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and healthy eating, she found it tough to shed the weight, even after she stopped breastfeeding in 2024.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion then resorted to GLP-1 medication in 2024, with the drug helping her to lose 15 kg. Apart from weight loss, Williams also found out that the drug helped in lowering cholesterol and regulating blood sugar levels, and it also put less stress on her knees, and she felt more energetic throughout the day.

The former World No.1 said she is using the drug because she is more concerned about her health rather than appearance. When she made the revelation of using the medication in an interview, it received mixed reactions.

The former World No.1 once again found herself facing the heat of the fans when, in the Super Bowl advertisement for Ro, a telehealth company, Williams could be seen injecting herself with the drug and also introducing a new pill. Williams’ husband, Alexis Ohanian, is an investor in Ro.

Healthier on Ro, supported on Ro, FDA-approved GLP-1 options- now even in a pill. Weight loss expertise I trust. I’m moving better on Ro. I’m Serena Williams. This is me on Ro.

Serena Williams said in the ad

Here’s the video:

Fans slam Serena Williams for promoting weight-loss drug

Some fans believe Serena Williams is not a positive role model for young girls who look up to her for strength and power. They also think Williams, as one of the global sport stars, should have been spreading a lot of awareness about body positivity. In short, for many fans, someone like Williams taking an injection or a pill is a tough pill to swallow.

Serena Williams
Serena Williams (Image via X/We Are Tennis France)

Check out their reactions here:

Williams, during her interview with Oprah last month, said she was reluctant to use the drug at first. After her first pregnancy, she found it “virtually impossible” to lose weight. She spent hours in the gym while training for the last match of her career, at the 2022 US Open, but it was of no help.

Holger Rune rushes to Serena Williams’ defense after criticism

Holger Rune, who is nursing his Achilles tendon injury, backed Williams for using the weight-loss drug. On X, when a Novak Djokovic fan said he’s ‘saddened’ to see Williams encouraging people to use a weight-loss drug, Rune said there’s no harm in taking something, prescribed by the doctor, to improve one’s health.

Serena Williams
Serena Williams (Image via X/We Are Tennis France)

Being overweight comes with a health risk , like alcohol and seeking help to overcome personal challenges is always the right thing to do. I think it’s great that @serenawilliams don’t pretend it just happened overnight , but openly inform about what she did to achieve her personal goals in terms of her body. There is not one right or wrong way here, there is only the way that is good for you and we should not shame on this.

Holger Rune wrote

Check out his post here:

The Dane tore his Achilles tendon during his semifinal match against Ugo Humbert at the Stockholm Open last year and left the court in tears. He missed the Australian Open and is expected to miss the majority of the 2026 season.

Last year, Rune made two finals. After losing the Indian Wells Masters to Jack Draper, the 22-year-old defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Barcelona Open final.

Also read: Ex-ATP Pro Thinks Carlos Alcaraz ‘Shouldn’t Have Been’ in Australian Open Final