"I knew it was coming, I felt really bad" - When Serena Williams' controversial US Open outburst led to reprimand from elder Jehovah's Witness members

Serena Williams once faced disapproval from elder Jehovah's Witness members for her controversial outburst at the 2009 US Open. The American lashed out at a lineswoman on match point.

Williams reached the semifinals of the 2009 US Open where she squared off against Belgium's Kim Clijsters. The American dropped the first set and was on the verge of losing the match at 5-6, 15-30. After a first serve that went out, Williams was called for a foot fault on the serve by the lineswoman. At match point, the frustrated American pointed her finger at the line umpire before yelling a few words.

Serena Williams, raised as a Jenovah's Witness, drew a reprimand from the elder members of the community for her actions. The 23-time Grand Slam champion said she "felt really bad" about the situation but referenced the Bible to emphasize that the members' "reprimand" was a demonstration of their "love."

"They had to have a talk with me. And I knew it was coming. I just felt really bad, though, because it's like, that's not who I am," Williams said, (as quoted by PEOPLE magazine).

"They just talk to you. They show you Scriptures. Not ministers; they call them elders. It's almost like a reprimand, but it's not bad because in the Bible it says God loves you, and if someone reprimands you, they love you," she added.

Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group who believe their fraternity is a restoration of first-century Christianity. Their ideas are contrary to mainstream Christianity and hence avoid celebrating holidays like Christmas and Easter which connects to paganism. Their community accounts for around 8.6 million people worldwide.

Serena Williams and her siblings converted in the early 1980s. The 23-time Grand Slam champion also got baptized last year as a Jehovah's Witness.

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Serena Williams does not celebrate her daughter Olympia's birthdays due to religious reasons

Serena Williams with her daughter Olympia at the 2020 Women's ASB Classic (Source: Getty)

Serena Williams does not celebrate her daughter Olympia's birthday due to religious reasons. It is to be noted that the Jehovah's witnesses also prohibit their members from celebrating their birthdays. They believe that the celebration has pagan roots.

Williams disclosed ahead of Olympia's first birthday in 2018 that the family would not celebrate the occasion, citing her beliefs.

"Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays. We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we don’t do that," Williams said during a press conference at the 2018 US Open.

Although Williams ended up hosting a small party a few months later, that included face paintings, train rides, and a carousel. Olympia dressed up in a red and white outfit on the occasion.

Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian welcomed their daughter Olympia on September 1, 2017. The six-time US Open champion gave birth to her younger daughter Adira River six years later.