Serena Williams Roasts Drake, Mentions Will Smith and Swelce at ESPYs

Serena Williams hosted the 2024 ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, marking her debut as an awards show host. The event featured a six-minute monologue where Williams addressed various sports and entertainment topics, including a critical commentary on athletes like Drake, Travis Kelce, and Shohei Ohtani. She also touched upon the longstanding feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which has been ongoing since the early 2010s and escalated with Lamar's recent release, "Like That." Additionally, Williams highlighted the salary disparity between male and female athletes, pointing out that male athletes earn significantly more.

Williams' monologue also included a controversial joke about Caitlin Clark, the Fever phenom and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, which received mixed reactions from the audience. Clark, who was nominated for three awards, was not in attendance. Williams also made light-hearted references to other well-known figures such as Travis Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift, LeBron James' son Bronny James joining the Los Angeles Lakers, and congratulated the Kansas City Chiefs and their coach Andy Reid.

Throughout the evening, Williams addressed various issues, including a pointed remark about Harrison Butker following his controversial commencement speech about women. She emphasized the importance of recognizing women as athletes and competitors. Despite some of the contentious moments, Williams was well-received by the audience, concluding the show with a standing ovation. The event also featured a star-studded red carpet, with notable appearances from celebrities like Katy Perry and fashion coverage by Marie Claire.