Serena Williams has caused an uproar off the court with a sexy lingerie photo, released on social media. (Photo: Serena Williams/Instagram)
Tennis star Serena Williams may have double faulted when she tweeted a sexually provocative photo of herself in bra and panties. She quickly pulled down the photo only hours after posting it.
Williams, 29, who has dominated womens’ professional tennis with her sister Venus Williams, has always had a flair for the dramatic.
Both sisters are into fashion and like to remind people that professional female athletes can be sexy, too. But some critics think Serena went a little too far.
The photo shows her wearing high heels and lingerie, although she is standing behind a sheer curtain and is partially silhouetted.
Serena Williams Bootilicious in Lingerie
(Click Photo to Enlarge!)
Critics claim posting a sexy photo was ill-timed because Serena has been stalked by a man who has been closely following her Tweets.
“It’s a sexy photo, she looks great and it’s not pornographic. To be honest, I would actually find it to be somewhat artistic if it weren’t for the serious business of stalking women,” wrote Greg Couch of The Sporting News.
“What was her message anyway? What was she trying to say? Just this: Look at me. Instead, what she was saying was this: Peep at me, but don’t stalk me. Huh?”
Couch’s opinion seems to suggest Serena was inviting the trouble. But nothing justifies stalking, and Serena should be able to post sexy photos of herself without fear of inciting stalkers.
The alleged stalker Patenema Ouedraogo was arrested outside of Williams’ Florida home on May 3 after he was spotted on the grounds of her Palm Beach Gardens estate.
Williams was out of town when the incident happened.
Ouedraogo has been charged with stalking and cyber-stalking. His bond is $25,000. If he makes bail he will be placed under house arrest.
The accused man said he knew where Serena was all of the time because of her twitter updates.
Serena had taken out a temporary restraining order against Ouedraogo, and he’s been ordered to stay 500 feet away from the star.