One of sports’ most successful women, Serena Williams won’t be showering her daughter, Alexis Olympia, with gifts for her birthday later this week.
The tennis ace has shocked fans by revealing she won’t be marking the youngster’s milestone at all – because of her religion. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the 36-year-old told reporters that 1 September will pass without fanfare because she’s a Jehovah’s Witness.
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays,” the Wimbledon champion said. “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t do that.” Typically, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not observe any holidays with a pagan origin, including birthdays, Easter and Christmas.
Other famous people who followed the faith included Prince and Michael Jackson.
Serena Williams turned to the practice as child – following her mother’s conversion – and she has discussed it on several occasions. According to an interview with Vogue in 2017, Serena wasn’t active in the faith until recently. “Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it,” she said.
Olympia Williams’ first child with husband, Alexis Ohanian. The Reddit co-founder married Williams in a romantic ceremony which took place in New Orleans on November 16, 2017.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmlNfbLlvbm/?hl=en&taken-by=serenawilliams
