Serena Williams Dances and Laughs Her Way into Bridgerton Jokes with Shonda Rhimes
The tennis icon showed off her playful side as Shonda Rhimes joked she could join Bridgerton—if she nailed the backup dancer audition
Serena Williams is still serving moves—just not on the court this time.
A clip from October 18, shows the 23-time Grand Slam champion joyfully dancing behind producer and writer Shonda Rhimes, taking part in the playful “Backup Dancer Challenge.” Rhimes, holding a copy of her memoir
Filmed in what appears to be a chic indoor gallery space with art-filled walls and blue carpeting, the 40-second video captures Williams—dressed in a sleek black gown and high heels—channeling her inner performer while Rhimes lip-syncs the line that quickly became a meme.
The moment, originally shared on Rhimes’ Instagram two days earlier, now counts over 165,000 views and 6,500 likes on X (formerly Twitter) through reposts, signaling another viral crossover between sports and entertainment.
A ‘Yes’-Era Reunion
Rhimes’ lighthearted post doubled as a nod to her 2015 best-seller Year of Yes, which encourages saying yes to joy, vulnerability, and bold new experiences. Williams, now retired from professional tennis, embodies that theme—showing a new stage of self-expression and confidence away from competition.
Throughout the clip, Williams mirrors Rhimes’ mock-serious tone with exaggerated spins, hip pops, and synchronized arm waves, her signature athletic precision turning into performance flair. The comedic contrast—Rhimes stoic with her book, Williams giving full energy—made the video instantly meme-ready.
Fans quickly dubbed it “the crossover we never knew we needed,” with some suggesting Williams might actually land a cameo in Bridgerton, the steamy Netflix hit from Rhimes’ Shondaland empire.
From Court to Cameos
Since announcing her retirement in 2022, Williams has leaned into fashion, family life, and creative projects, often hinting at an interest in acting. She’s appeared in small cameos over the years, but her recent moves—literally—signal a renewed comfort in front of the camera.
Her longtime friendship with Rhimes dates back to charity galas and Hollywood circles, where both have been vocal about representation and storytelling for women of color. In that sense, this viral moment feels like more than a dance challenge; it’s a celebration of two Black powerhouses crossing lanes—sports and television—on equal footing.
Rhimes, ever the showrunner, turned a casual dance into promotional gold. Holding her book while joking about Bridgerton gave fans exactly what they love: wit, warmth, and brand synergy. Within hours, TikTokers recreated the “Backup Dancer” audio with their own friends, tagging both women in playful imitation videos.
Fan Reactions: Love, Laughs, and Light Shade
The reactions on X were overwhelmingly positive—about 80 percent of sampled comments praised the fun, empowerment, and effortless chemistry between the two.
“Serena’s really wants to be an extra on #Bridgerton coz she is busting out all her moves,” one user wrote.
“Serena Williams is living her best life!!!” added another.
Others focused on her fashion and post-retirement glow:
“How many inches were those heels? My knees could never.”
A smaller slice of replies mixed humor with cultural commentary, referencing her husband Alexis Ohanian and poking fun at her rhythm. Yet even mild critics acknowledged the confidence behind her performance.
The post’s fanbase also bridged multiple audiences—Shonda Rhimes loyalists, tennis devotees, and Sussex Squad supporters, since the original poster @ZandiSussex often celebrates Meghan Markle and Black excellence. Dozens of replies imagined Williams appearing in a future
A Lesson in Joyful Marketing
For Rhimes, this isn’t just viral fun—it’s smart storytelling. Bridgerton has built its empire on luxury, sensuality, and spectacle, but also on humor and reinvention. By jokingly inviting Serena Williams into that world, Rhimes expands the show’s cultural footprint while humanizing herself in a playful, meme-friendly format.
For Williams, it’s part of a growing pattern of visibility grounded in joy. Since leaving tennis, she’s shared dance routines, motherhood clips, and business milestones. She does so with the same competitive sparkle that defined her athletic career. She no longer has to win trophies. Instead, she just has to keep being herself. As a result, the internet rewards it.
The “Backup Dancer Challenge” encapsulates that. Two women with towering résumés letting loose, laughing at themselves, and reminding fans that achievement and silliness can coexist.
A Moment Rooted in Friendship
The chemistry between Williams and Rhimes feels effortless. There’s no awkward celebrity stiffness. Instead, there’s just genuine laughter, mutual admiration, and the rhythm of two women who’ve spent decades mastering their crafts.
When Rhimes ends the video by pointing at Williams with a grin, and Serena answers with a power pose and a laugh, the symbolism lands perfectly. Legacy meets lightheartedness.
As fans continue to circulate the clip, remixing it with R&B soundtracks and Bridgerton violin themes, it’s already proving the point of
Conclusion: When Icons Have Fun
The exchange between Serena Williams and Shonda Rhimes proves something that often gets lost in celebrity culture. Sometimes the most powerful flex is having fun. Both women have conquered their respective arenas. Williams redefined athletic greatness. Meanwhile, Rhimes revolutionized television storytelling. Yet here they are, laughing, dancing, and giving fans a glimpse of authenticity that no red carpet can stage.
In an era where so many moments feel forced or manufactured, this one resonates because it’s natural. It’s not a PR stunt or a choreographed promo. Instead, it’s simply two icons sharing a moment of levity and self-confidence. And judging by the reactions, audiences are ready for more of that.
Whether or not Serena Williams actually lands a cameo in Bridgerton remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: she’s already mastered the art of saying yes to joy. That’s something Shonda Rhimes herself would call the ultimate power move.
Meanwhile, the audiences on the various social platforms watch this content to be entertained. The current generation is used to their icons being accessible.
How the Buccaneers can beat the Lions in Week 7
It’s the battle of the banged-up on Monday Night Football. The Bucs and Lions are both facing their fair share of injuries coming into their primetime matchup. Tampa Bay is missing several starters on offense, while Detroit’s secondary is the walking wounded. Both teams will be looking to take advantage of each other's absences on Monday.
This will be the fourth time these two teams have met in the past three seasons. Detroit holds the edge with two wins in 2023, including a playoff win, while the Bucs went into Motown last year and upset the Lions in Week 3. The Buccaneers will be able to even things up and secure what could be a very important tie-breaker when it comes to playoff seeding down the line if they follow these keys to cannon fire.
Red zone defense needs to step up
The Bucs' red zone defense has not been good this season. In fact, they are ranked 28th in the league, allowing touchdowns 68.7% of the time. Not good.
One of the reasons the Buccaneers had so much success last year in Detroit was the fact that they were able to hold the Lions to just one of seven attempts in the red zone. They’ll need to hold strong down in their own territory once again this year if they want to come out of the Motor City with a win.
Even with a new offensive coordinator, the Lions have been one of the best teams in the league when in the red zone. Detroit is averaging 31.8 points per game and is ranked third in red zone offense, scoring touchdowns 74.1% of the time. Stopping them on third down, where they’re around the middle of the pack in the league, will be crucial to preventing trips in the red zone in the first place.
The Bucs are relatively healthy on defense, and the returns of Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison should go a long way to helping slow down an explosive Lions offense.
Don’t let Aidan Hutchinson take over the game
We’ve seen the impact Aidan Hutchinson can have on a game before. Look no further than last season when he tallied 4.5 sacks against the Buccaneers in Detroit. Unfortunately, like last season, Hutchinson will be matched up with a Bucs backup tackle, as Luke Goedeke was banged up when these two teams faced each other in 2024 and will miss Monday's game as well.
Last season, it was Justin Skule, who was abused by the Lions’ premier edge rusher. Charlie Heck will be faced with the task this season, although he is sure to receive help. Expect a heavy dose of Cade Otton and Payne Durham lining up next to him to try to mitigate Hutchinson’s impact on the game. Baker Mayfield has been incredible this season, getting out of tight spaces, but we’ve seen Hutchinson blow up game plans before.
If the Bucs are going to win this game, they will need to contain him and not let him become the determining factor.
Bring a balanced attack to Detroit
The Lions' secondary is severely depleted, and that’s being generous. Injuries have ravaged the unit.
Cornerbacks Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, D.J. Reed and Avonte Maddox, as well as safety Kerby Joseph, have all been ruled out for Monday night's contest. In addition, safety Brian Branch was suspended by the league for his actions following their loss to the Chiefs last Sunday. With so many players in the secondary down for Detroit, the Bucs are surely going to want to try to take advantage through the air.
However, they will also need to establish a ground game to try to help mitigate the pressure Detroit’s front will bring to Baker Mayfield. The Bucs' ground game bounced back last week, and they will need Rachaad White and Sean Tucker to churn out the tough yards so the Lions' pass rush won’t be able to just pin their ears back and get after Mayfield all game.
The potential returns of Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka should help open things underneath in the run game to allow the Bucs to have a more balanced offense, while still taking their shots down the field.
