Nationwide — Serena Williams raised concerns after noticing a cotton plant decoration at a New York City hotel. The 43-year-old tennis legend shared videos on Instagram, telling followers the display made her feel uneasy.
In a post on Sept. 25, Williams filmed a vase filled with cotton branches placed on a hallway table outside her hotel room, according to People. She asked viewers, “Alright, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?”
“Personally for me, it doesn’t feel great,” Williams said.
She later shared another clip, this time holding a piece of the cotton and compared it to nail polish remover cotton. Williams touched it briefly, cringed, and then moved away from the camera.
The decoration had already appeared in the background of an earlier video she filmed while walking to the elevator. After pointing it out directly, Williams’ posts sparked online discussion about the choice of decor.
Cotton plants are often viewed as a controversial decorative choice in the U.S. Because of their association with slavery and the exploitation of enslaved African Americans in cotton fields, many consider them racially insensitive in public or casual displays.
Meanwhile, Williams was in New York for a SKIMS campaign event. She stars in “Bodies at Work,” a short film promoting the brand’s new collaboration with Nike. Other athletes featured include Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles, Chloe Kim, Madisen Skinner, Romane Dicko, Beatriz Hatz, and Nelly Korda.