"Weird behavior from you" - Serena Williams's husband Alexis Ohanian lashes out at critic over Gabby Thomas question

Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, hit back at a critic who questioned the Reddit co-founder over Gabby Thomas. Thomas, the renowned track and field athlete, has served as the face of Athlos, Ohanian's very own all-woman track competition.

Alexis Ohanian and his venture capital firm, Seven Seven Six, created Athlos. The inaugural edition of the competition, Athlos NYC, was held in New York's Icahn Stadium in late September this year and offered the biggest prize purse in track and field history. Gabby Thomas featured prominently at the event, as well as other female track and field athletes such as Alexis Holmes and Faith Kipyegon.

Recently, Thomas was roped in to feature in Grand Slam Track, another track and field competition. An X (formerly Twitter) user asked Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian how he could allow Athlos' face to be a part of Grand Slam Track. This led to the Reddit co-founder issuing multiple responses.

"Still time to delete this," Serena Williams's husband Alexis Ohanian wrote first.

Ohanian later slammed the user for thinking that Thomas is 'owned' by Athlos.

"I'm so happy for all the people who have followed us @athlos and started investing in the sport! @itsgabbyt deserves everything and more. Weird behavior from you to think anyone would "own" an athlete tbh....," Ohanian stated in a separate response to the critic.

Another user later asked Ohanian why he had written "own" in a way that implied that the critic had used the exact same word. Williams' husband replied:

"In this context, the quotes around “own” signal that the word is being used sarcastically. It suggests that the concept of “letting anyone do something with an athlete I partnered with" is absurd or problematic, emphasizing a rejection of the implied claim by the OP."

Later, Ohanian opined that several people are spending their time writing "nonsense" on X instead of doing something productive.

"I spend most of my time building or helping builders build. It's crazy how many people spend so much of their time tweeting nonsense at me instead of building. Be useful," Serena Williams's husband Alexis Ohanian concluded.

In November, Ohanian reacted to Masai Russell lauding the Reddit co-founder for launching Athlos NYC.

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"Athlos needs to be even bigger" - Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian's response to Masai Russell

Alexis Ohanian (Source: Getty)

Athlos NYC was widely regarded as a success. The competition not only showcased the talents and skills of some of the world's most iconic women's track and field athletes but also entertained audiences through performances by Megan Thee Stallion and DJ D-Nice.

Masai Russell, another prominent track and field athlete who featured at the event, praised Serena Williams's husband Alexis Ohanian for building a platform for the growth of women's track and field. Ohanian took notice of what Russell had to say, and in response, he wrote:

"Don't worry @masai_russell that's just the beginning -- y'all proved that ATHLOS needs to be even BIGGER in 2025."

Ohanian has been heavily involved in working for the growth of women's sports, particularly in America. He is one of the co-owners of Angel City FC, a team that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). He also co-produced 'The Offseason', a reality show featuring several NWSL players living together under one roof and sharing their experiences.