Celebrities know this all too well. While living a life of fame and riches seems appealing to the masses, there are also a deal of downsides to consider, not least the fact that you’re almost always going to have to live with vocal critics.
Perhaps celebs grow thick skins after a time; maybe they come to realize that petty comments and the opinions of people they’ve never met don’t actually matter all that much.
All the same, I think there are a good number of people out there who should take a closer look at one of the timeless old adages: if you don’t have anything kind to say, don’t say anything at all.
If you hadn’t noticed, this is a matter I feel quite strongly for, and my passions were somewhat stirred earlier this week when I saw people lambasting tennis superstar Serena Williams online.
Now, it should go without saying that Serena is an icon of sport, and fans were able to watch the dramatic rise of she and her sister Venus from their days as teenage prodigies to queens of tennis.
Now 42 years old, Serena has lived the majority of her life in the spotlight, and her appearance has naturally shifted and changed as she’s gotten older. In truth, she’s sported many different looks over the years, from beaded braids to red-tinted weaves to glamorous jewelry.
It’s not always been easy for the Michigan-born superstar. Far from it, in fact. Serna told The View in 2018: “I’ve been body-shamed basically since I’ve been in the public eye.”
These days she’s retired from the court, but Serena naturally remains a point of interest – becoming a sport-transcending legend will do that. Said interest was only heightened when she embarked on a weight-loss journey after welcoming her second child in 2023.
Last month, Serena revealed she was working tirelessly to return to her pre-baby body. “I’m still getting there, I still have a little more baby weight to come off,” she said at the time.
And yet while the 42-year-old continues to return to fitness, there have been those online who are more focused on a perceived change in her facial appearance.
Back in March, Serena teamed up with Vogue to give fans a behind-the-scenes look as she prepared for a Balmain fashion show. After footage emerged, there were those who couldn’t resist the urge to criticize Serena’s appearance.
“I really like this woman but…please just say when and stop with the Botox, fillers or whatever is destroying your wonderful look! Please!” one person commented on Instagram.
“The lip fillers are truly unnecessary. Where are her close friends?” another wrote.
A third chimed: “What did Serena do to her face? she looks swollen.”
“I love her but what is happening to her face?? Her eyebrows, her lips, the veneers…. What are these plastic surgeons doing?? People look increasingly frightening.” wrote a fourth.
Another still added: “I want Serena to take the filters out her face and go back to her natural look!! This Fiona look is not sitting well with me…”
