'You Must Really Hate...': Serena Williams’ Husband Hits Back At Racist Trolls

Last Updated:October 14, 2025, 08:52 IST

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian responds to racist attack over his Armenian heritage, highlighting his family's history.

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian during the Leagues Cup 2023 match between Cruz Azul and Inter Miami (Picture credit: AFP)

23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has fought back after a racist attack on him online over his Armenian heritage. He has Armenian roots thanks to his father, who was a native of Turkey. His father, Chris, worked as a travel agent and pharmacy technician.

As per reports, Chris relocated to the United States to escape the Armenian genocide. Owing to his Armenian heritage, Ohanian has been involved with non-profit organisations in Armenia as well, working to give back to his community.

The racist attack instance began with a talk show, TBPN, hosted by vlogger John Coogan and Jordi Hays, sharing a post on X to announce Ohanian as their next guest.

“Trust a snake over an Armenian," a user tweeted on Sunday night.

Ohanian, who is quite active on social media, was quick to react to the comment.

“You must really hate how much we thrive despite y’all’s best efforts," he replied in the wee hours of Monday.

Williams and Ohanian were seen at the latter’s second edition of the women-only track event, Athlos, which ended last week in New York.

Ohanian’s early life

Ohanian was born in Brooklyn, New York City, before his family moved to a suburb in Maryland during his childhood. Being the only Armenians in their neighbourhood, his parents enrolled him in an AGBU-sponsored summer camp to help him stay connected to his heritage.

Ohanian attended Howard High School in Ellicott City, Maryland and later delivered the school’s commencement address in 2001 at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Why the hate for Armenians

Anti-Armenian sentiment, or Armenophobia, arises from a long history of ethnic and religious conflicts, political agendas and propaganda, rather than from widespread hatred by any single group.

During World War I, the Ottoman government killed or deported between 1.2 and 1.8 million Armenians in a campaign now recognised as genocide. The Turkish government’s ongoing and forceful denial of this atrocity continues to fuel anti-Armenian sentiment in modern Turkey.

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