Serena Williams revealed her reason for avoiding pop icon Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl in February.

The two attended the event with their loved ones but weren’t seen together, despite being longtime friends.

Serena Williams Explains Her Decision to Avoid Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl

Serena Williams shared in an interview with The Time Magazine that she had planned to approach her friend Taylor Swift while watching Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, but changed her mind because of the circumstances.

The tennis champion, who made a surprise brief cameo during Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us performance at the halftime show, was accompanied by her entrepreneur husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their seven-year-old daughter, Olivia.

She wanted to do something special for her daughter, of course, and hoped to get an autograph from Swift, even waiting outside the Blank Space singer’s suite at the Caesars Superdome.

However, she started reconsidering her reunion with Swift after finding out that the singer-songwriter had been met with a cold reception from the audience during the match.

Swift didn’t perform at the halftime show but was present at the Super Bowl to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, but unfortunately lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Because of that, the Cruel Summer singer was met with a wave of booing from Eagles fans when her face appeared on the Jumbotron.

“I’m such a mom. I was ready to go in there myself and be like, ‘Taylor, come get this girl,’” the Grand Slam winner said.

Williams decided to leave Swift alone and wanted to “respect her space,” realizing that it’s a tough time for someone when their team loses.

She also added: “My husband and I, we’re so in a different space. We’re so connected, we’re so in love, we’re just, like, trying to get our daughter Taylor Swift autographs. And nothing else.”

Serena Defends Taylor Swift After Audience Booed Her at the Super Bowl

Williams was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential women of the year, mostly for being a tennis legend, but also for standing up for women, such as she did for Swift in February.

The former athlete took to X to defend her pal after the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles match, writing: “I love you @taylorswift13 dont listen to those booo!!”

Williams recalled what she witnessed and felt during that time and told the outlet, “Why would you boo her? That’s so mean. That’s just awful.”

Her friendship with Swift goes a long way back, with Williams often supporting the Grammy winner’s work, and even appearing as a guest during her 1989 Tour in 2015. Williams and her daughter proudly refer to themselves as “Swifties” and have shared their interactions with the singer online.

What do you think of Serena Williams’ reason for deliberately avoiding Taylor Swift? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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