Exclusive Video: Serena Williams: Everyone Called Me Fat
Serena Williams has one of the best bodies in sports, but she has still been called fat.
"I went through a really tough stage that took place when I was No. 1 and I had surgery and fell to almost 200 in the ranking," she told Tyra Banks in an interview to air on her talk show on Thursday (watch video above). "Everyone called me fat, saying I was really unfit. Every [news]paper, the headline was 'fat, fat, fat.'"
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Her body image issues weren't the only ones she was struggling with. Around that time in 2003, her half-sister, Yetunde Price, was shot and killed in L.A., outside the tennis courts where Williams and her sister Venus once played. The ordeal "was really, really difficult" for Williams.
Williams channeled that pain into an upcoming memoir, On the Line.
"It talks about my journey through that whole situation, playing again when everyone said I couldn't do it," she said. "They said I'd never be No. 1, they said I'd never win another grand slam."
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Her introspection helped, she told Banks, adding that she wrote herself "little notes" about "the importance of staying positive."
Williams admitted that she does not read her own press and has instead stored all those clippings away until she is retired from the game -- and ready to deal with them.
"You have to enjoy what you look like," she said. "Sometimes I read things [that say] I'm too fit or my arms are too muscular, but that's how I am. This is me, I love me. I think every person out there -- man, woman, regardless of age or gender -- needs to love themselves."
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That love, she said, even extends to her competitors. Williams, who recently made headlines when she verbally assaulted a line judge during her U.S. Open match, asserts that she is most sorry about letting down those who have supported her.
"I play with a lot of fire, and I play with a lot of passion for everything I do," Williams said. "I think the worst part was the fans missed out on seeing the end of an amazing match. We played over two hours of amazing tennis."
To see Banks' entire interview with Williams -- including a segment in which they play a game of tennis on the streets of NYC -- tune in to The Tyra Show on Thursday on the CW.
Tell Us What You Think
31EVERYBODY HAS ISSUES IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOUR BLACK WHITE OR HISPANIC. WE ALL GOT CHARACTER DEFECTS.
ALL I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL HUMANS AND WE ARE NOT PERFECT,WE DO GET FRUSTRATED,SAD,AND OVERWHELMED.SO WHO IS WHO TO JUDGE.DON'T THROW ROCKS AT A GLASS HOUSE.
that's because white people are used to skin and damn bones, no butt, and fake boobs, yet now they getting butt implants, lip injection and all the other crap they criticized black people for havimg.
it does noy matter what people say about you, you doing something with yo life so they mad and say stuff about you they just hatin dont listin to them keep doin what you doin and you will be ok...
Let's say MARIA had this outburst, we would not still be discussing it!
You go girl! We love you! John McEntire could through a fit but not a sista! Yes kiss our A**!
all the Serena HATERS shut up and get a life.. she has achieved more thn you all put together ever would in your lifetime!!
well at least she's not sleeping with her father
September 23, 2009 - 1:32pm Jessica Says: "I've been there." ... Tyra, you've never been called fat a day in your life by anyone with proper body image, don't even joke. Shut up. Janice Dickinson does not count, she is a harpy. --------------------- UM YEA TYRA DID GET CALLED FAT A FEW YEARS AGO AT A PHOTO SHOOT. ALL BECAUSE IT WAS A NATURAL SHOT OF HER IN THE WATER, NOT POSED. WHY DON'T YOU STFU LOSER BEFORE YOU GO SAYING CRAP YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT
"I've been there." ... Tyra, you've never been called fat a day in your life by anyone with proper body image, don't even joke. Shut up. Janice Dickinson does not count, she is a harpy.
If she were WHITE, I'd still call her out the same way. She's FAT, and a foul-mouthed, threatening verbal abuser. What's skin color got to do with it? Why do blacks always have to jump in with the skin color, is that all they've got? Hey, blacks, bulletin: there are fat, dumb, abusive whites too, oh gosh how can I say that?! I'm WHITE! Sad that YOU think a person's skin must be the color of black, if they're being insulted. YOU insult YOUR OWN RACE. Grow up, move on, get educated and GET OVER IT! You all are the only ones letting your skin color define you. No one else cares what color you are. It's the blacks always bringing it up. Do whites always focus on or bring up what skin color THEY ARE, like blacks do? No, we don't, and I've been passed over for jobs before because I'm NOT a minority I was told, and that's what they had to hire for their quota. I should have sued, that's discrimination. Blacks get their way lots, just because they are black.
Wow!! Look at all the Serena haters!! Serena - you are beautiful!! Continue to shine. Don't beat yourself up too much about the incident with the judge. Grow from it and allow it to make you a better person. John McEnroe lost his temper for years on the court, so lets not make this the worst sin imaginable ever in tennis people. And for all of you calling her fat - I would love to see you play her in a a round of tennis, so that she can show you how fit she really is!
Amazon woman!
for all of you judging her remember one day you will be judge who died and made you the creature of the world stop hating because she has something that you don't talent!!!!! But i guess if she was white i guess it would be ok?? some of you need to go back to school> DMB AZZZZ
Serena is healthy and fit, she has something called MUSCLE folks!
When will Tennis finally test for Steroid abuse...the 'ROID RAGE Sisters should be tested. Her outburst at the US Open is indicative of anger and rage brought on by abuse of steroids. THere is nothing here that is spiritual or about forgiveness. It is about cheating and both Serena, Venus, and all tennis players need to be tested. This Country Club sport has taken a turn for the worse.
One of the best bodies in sports??!!!! She IS FAT. LOOK AT HER, DUH,SHE'S FAT. I don't know how she movies around a court, or why she doesn't lose any weight. Lord she must SHOVEL the food in. And now, after her rant at the US Open, she's shown the world that she's a violent, verbal, threatening ABUSER. You cannot deny this, she showed to the world what she's about and even admitted on video she even used to be worse! This girl should have been banned from the tennis association and all tournaments. They should have taken her prize money from her. Bad call or not, if you're raised right, you can yell and say I don't agree and question the call, but a DECENT person NEVER uses the F word or gets threatening or verbally abusive. Myself, my husband, my family, we can get mad at times like all people, but we never get abusive, verbally or otherwise. You just don't. It's called control, having values and morals. Sad that people think that violence and bad behavior are acceptable. Sick world we live in. Yeah, she's a great role model for kid tennis players. Not. BAN HER.
I'm still a fan, Serena. Like EVERYONE, you've done something that you regret. She has admitted this, and yet some people continue to bash her. Come now, we have all fallen short of the glory of God. To deny forgiveness to one who asks is to admit that you, yourself is not deserving of it either. There is not one of us who walks this Earth that is perfect, but reading some of these comments would certainly suggest otherwise, lol.
Really, what did she do that we haven't seen McEnroe or Connors do in the past? Is she being treated differently, because of gender?
Serena I've never seen you fat. Girl, Iam a 47 yr old size 4 white girl..I would kill to have your body. I am a tennis "freak" and you I won't say what you yelled at the US Open was right but I see why you were upset by the calls.