Nationwide — Naomi Osaka defended her decision to host a Black tennis players’ dinner ahead of the French Open. She co-hosted the event with Taylor Townsend to highlight inclusion, shared experience, and connection off the court amid online criticism.
Naomi Osaka and Taylor Townsend organized a private dinner in Paris, France, during French Open week. The gathering brought together Black players and tennis figures to highlight community beyond competition.
The dinner, known as “The Black Party,” took place at Soho House Paris with support from CCG Social. Guests included Gaël Monfils, Coco Gauff, Christopher Eubanks, and Asia Muhammad.
At the event, Osaka said, “To be a minority in a sport like tennis makes most days feel really isolated, but when I see other players that look like me, I feel a sense of fellowship that cannot be described.”
Townsend also explained the goal behind the dinner, saying, “It’s important for us to come together because this sport is naturally very isolating and selfish. I feel like it’s important to break that mold, support each other outside of the sport and away from the courts, and build genuine friendships that last beyond the court.”
Osaka has consistently spoken about identity and inclusion throughout her career. The Paris dinner continued that focus by highlighting shared experiences among Black athletes on tour.
On May 23, 2026, Osaka shared photos from the event on Instagram and described it as a moment to appreciate Black players in tennis. The post sparked criticism online, with some questioning why the dinner was limited to certain athletes.
She responded the next day on Threads, writing, “First of all I do love everyone for who they are no matter their race + ethnicity, (I’m literally half Japanese lol). I can only speak from my experiences in my own life though, growing up as a tennis player I didn’t see many people that looked like ME and I feel like it’s important to celebrate them. I don’t know how else to tell you this, I literally seen them all the time and never had an issue with it at all. To the people who ask this question I want to ask you this question too, ’What is it about POC getting together that unsettles you so much?’”
Osaka also said she will not apologize for recognizing the achievements of athletes of color. She said, “This is not about exclusion, this is a celebration about how far we have come.”