Serena Williams Promotes Weight Loss Drug in High-Profile Super Bowl Advertisement
Tennis icon Serena Williams has taken centre stage in a new Super Bowl commercial promoting GLP-1 weight loss medication, marking a significant escalation in her partnership with telehealth company Ro. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who revealed last summer that she had shed 31 pounds using the drug Zepbound, now showcases her continued weight loss journey in the high-budget advertisement set to air during the NFL's championship game on February 8.
From Tennis Courts to Commercial Breaks
In the newly teased commercial, Williams appears dancing energetically in a powder blue tennis skirt and crop top ensemble, while a voiceover emphasises how she is "moving" and "feeling" better since using Ro's services. The advertisement reveals that Williams has lost an additional three pounds since last August, bringing her total weight loss to 34 pounds through the medication regimen.
This isn't Williams' first foray into Super Bowl advertising - the mother-of-two previously featured in commercials for Anheuser-Busch's Michelob Ultra and Remy Martin, and even made a surprise appearance during Kendrick Lamar's halftime show last year. However, this campaign represents her most direct endorsement of pharmaceutical products to date.
Controversial Partnership Draws Criticism
The tennis legend's promotion of GLP-1 medication has sparked considerable controversy since she first disclosed her use of weight loss drugs last August. Many fans expressed disappointment, arguing that her endorsement contradicts body positivity principles she had previously championed.
"So now Serena Williams is publicly promoting GLP-1 from Ro, an Ozempic-like product, and claiming her use of it for weight loss, as a healthy choice," one critic shared online. "I'm deeply disappointed in her, as an ex-athlete that has been into body positivity and healthy lifestyle besides appearance."
Another concerned observer commented: "GLP1 is a drug, and there are still doubts about the safety of this drug. Please don't promote something so sinister for money. Many people might be influenced by you to use this drug, and they might suffer harm!"
Postpartum Weight Struggles and Medical Intervention
Williams has been open about her weight management challenges following motherhood. After giving birth to her eldest daughter Alexis Olympia in 2017, and welcoming her second daughter Adira River in August 2023, the athlete experienced persistent postpartum weight fluctuations despite maintaining the healthy lifestyle of a professional athlete.
The tennis star explained that she would achieve temporary weight loss only to encounter frustrating plateaus, eventually leading her to seek guidance from healthcare company Ro. Williams serves as a paid spokesperson for the company, while her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, holds an investment stake in the organisation.
In previous interviews with TODAY and People magazine, Williams described feeling lighter "physically and mentally" since beginning the medication, sharing post-workout photos that showcased her transformed physique.
Super Bowl Spotlight and Celebrity Endorsements
The Ro commercial represents one of the most expensive advertising platforms globally, with 30-second spots during last year's Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs reportedly costing an average of $8 million according to CBS estimates. Williams shares the spotlight in the advertisement with NBA legend Charles Barkley, who reportedly lost 45 pounds using similar methods.
The campaign forms part of a broader initiative to position Ro as a platform where people can become "healthier on Ro," though this messaging has drawn criticism from those who argue that promoting pharmaceutical weight loss solutions prioritises aesthetics over genuine health considerations.
As Williams continues her transition from professional tennis - having retired after the 2022 US Open - her commercial endorsements and personal health journey remain subjects of intense public scrutiny and debate within both sporting and wellness communities.
