Serena's GQ cover spurs unnecessary controversy

Serena Williams was named GQ magazine's Woman of the Year, and with that came celebration in the tennis world. Another month, another round of global pop-culture attention doled out to the sport.

However, that was hardly the end of it for some culture vultures. A cross-section of Serena's fandom, sexism/transphobia watchdogs and the general-interest Twitterati took umbrage with the quotation marks bookending the word "woman" on Serena's cover, one of four in a series featuring famous individuals. (The other three are Henry Golding, Michael B. Jordan and Jonah Hill.)

The circus of outrage is unfortunate on one level, with the accumulated bluster belying the fact that writer Jeanne Marie Laskas' cover profile of Serena illuminates a few worthy topics. Among them: her marriage; her motherhood; her perspective on the plight of black women in our world, the differences in reactions to her and Brett Kavanaugh's explosive responses to stress (note: hers was relatively spontaneous); her relationships with sister Venus Williams and mother Oracene Price; and more marquee items.

With media sources including the *New York Times* and *Huffington Post*offering takes on the controversy, it is important to note a couple things. First, Virgil Abloh's handwriting is emblazoned on Serena's cover, and he made the same style choices for "LOGO" and "SERENA" on her Nike wardrobe at this year's US Open.

Even Serena's daughter's name, "OLYMPIA," appeared with that text treatment on her US Open warmup jacket's interior, a heart-adjacent touch for the GOAT. (Let's not even imagine if "GOAT" had appeared in quotes on the cover in question.)

Second, Serena herself has yet to speak publicly about the conniption the cover design created. That itself is telling, gauging by the fact that, when controversy has found her (or vice versa) in the past, Serena has rather readily addressed it. (Exhibits A and B: post-final press conference in New York, 2018; tweet after Justine Henin admitted regret over her French Open "hand incident" against Serena, 2011.)

Certainly there are considerations of how Serena, Venus and other female athletes have dealt with thinly if at all veiled sexism in their respective careers in the limelight. Public statements, bad jokes and more have revealed true colors from bitter competitors, foe's coaches and more over time, expressing disdain for the sisters' body types and powerful shots.

Tracking back to the GQ cover: It may be best that all involved simply move on. It is good to highlight the crucial work of leveling the playing field for women and people of color. It is also good at this time to simply consider the power of Serena's image and example in society. At the end of this, that's well worth celebrating.

Follow Jon on Twitter @jonscott9.