Serena Williams confirms she won't celebrate her daughter's first birthday because of her Jehovah's Witness beliefs

Serena Williams‘ daughter, Alexis Olympia, turns one on Saturday, but don’t be thinking Instagram will be flooded with party pictures.

And that’s not because the tennis ace wants to keep things low key, in fact, there will be no celebration at all.

The tennis star has confirmed that she won’t actually be celebrating her little one’s first birthday because of her beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Speaking at a press conference at the US Open, Serena was asked whether she had thought about how she would celebrate Olympia’s first birthday.

“Is there a birthday party planned?” the 36-year-old was asked by a reporter, to which she replied: “Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays. We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we don’t do that.”

According to JW.org: “Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays because they believe that such celebrations displease God.”

The site goes on to say that Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the celebration of birthdays has pagan roots and that early Christians did not celebrate birthdays.

Speaking to Vogue last year about her faith, Serena explained that her husband, Alexis Ohanian, has also embraced her beliefs. “Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it,” she said. “Alexis didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really receptive and even takes the lead. He puts my needs first.”

Since welcoming Olympia last year the tennis champion has been opening up about her motherhood journey.

A couple of weeks ago she revealed that she’d been asked to stop breastfeeding by her male coach for the benefit of her tennis career.

And earlier this month, she penned a candid Instagram post admitting to her followers that she is suffering from “postpartum emotions”.

“Last week was not easy for me. Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk,” she wrote. “Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom. I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 [sic] years if not dealt with. I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal.”

The new mum also recently revealed all about her difficult birth telling Harpers Bazaar that she was forced to undergo an emergency caesarean while giving birth to Alexis, and had to have surgery for blood clots in her lungs.

“Honestly, sometimes I think I still have to deal with it,” she told the publication.

“I think people have to talk about it more because it’s almost like the fourth trimester, it’s part of the pregnancy.

Serena has been clocking up the headlines fashion wise too. Last week it was revealed that she’d been banned from wearing her ‘Black Panther’-inspired catsuit at future French Open tournaments.

ICYMI the tennis champion made a memorable return to the court after maternity leave in the badass bodysuit which she revealed made her feel like a “warrior princess” from Wakanda – the fictional nation where the Marvel Comics film is set.

And despite the outfit being designed to help prevent blood clots, she has been prevented from wearing the outfit again.

During an interview with Tennis Magazine, French Tennis Federation President, Bernard Giudicelli, stated: “We are going to ask the manufacturers to let us know what is coming. I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena’s outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place.”

Thankfully, Serena had the perfect response, appearing on court yesterday in a black tutu and fishnets.

YASS Serena!

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