On Wednesday, June 25, the 43-year-old tennis legend posted an Instagram Story from her family vacation aboard a boat off the coast of Corsica. In the clip, she showed off bright blue water and a view of the Bonifacio White Chapel. Tagging Biles, 28, Williams wrote, “Jealous?”
The gymnastics star didn’t hesitate to respond. She reposted the video to her own Stories with the message, “Girllllllll yes,” followed by a mending heart and crying emoji. Biles also added a cheeky warning: “just you wait 👊🏾.” In April, Williams posted a photo from the TIME 100 Gala and joked that she had found her new tennis partner. “The highlight of my night meeting my favorite #Avenger Scarlett Johansson ❤️😍😍 And of course being reunited with my new doubles partner @simonebiles,” she wrote. Biles was quick to play along, commenting, “Coming soon to a court near you.”
In 2020, Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian staged a toy “Mini Olympics” at home during lockdown and joked about Biles while pretending to compete. The 23-time Grand Slam champ landed a vault with a plastic figurine while Ohanian offered dramatic commentary in full sportscaster mode: “The U.S. Olympic team has really fallen off since Simone Biles left and was replaced by this,” he joked. “Quite the terrible dismount, probably broke a few bones on that.”
Ever seen two queens interact on social media and the internet just explode? That’s exactly what happened when Simone Biles, Olympic gymnastics icon, reacted to a fierce and sassy post by tennis legend Serena Williams. A single emoji—yes, just one—sent fans into a frenzy. But what’s the story behind it? Let’s break it down.
The Post That Shook the Timeline
Serena Williams recently posted a stunning photo of herself on Instagram with the caption: “Jealous?” The image oozed confidence, power, and Serena’s signature no-apologies energy. It wasn’t just a picture—it was a statement.
Setting the Social Media Stage
The comment section blew up. Celebs, fans, influencers—everyone had something to say. But it was Simone Biles’ subtle yet emotional reaction that truly stole the spotlight.
Simone Biles’ Crying Emoji – What Does It Mean?
A Simple Emoji With a Thousand Interpretations
Simone Biles dropped a crying emoji 😢 in response. Just that. But social media detectives went wild trying to decode it. Was it admiration? Humor? A touch of envy? Or just pure love?
Emotional Nuance in the Emoji Era
In an age where emojis say more than words, Simone’s crying emoji could mean:
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“I’m in awe of this beauty.”
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“You’re too much, Serena!”
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“How do I even compete with this queen?”
The ambiguity only fueled the buzz.
The Relationship Between Simone and Serena
Mutual Respect Between Two GOATs
Simone Biles and Serena Williams have long expressed admiration for one another. They’ve spoken up about mental health, faced public pressure, and dominated in arenas historically underrepresented by women of color.
Shared Struggles, Shared Triumphs
From dealing with media scrutiny to overcoming setbacks, both women have rewritten the rules in their sports. Their bond isn’t just based on celebrity—it’s a shared experience of resilience.
Fans React – Twitter Has a Field Day
Fan Theories and Hot Takes
Naturally, fans jumped in with wild interpretations:
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“That emoji was definitely envy!”
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“Nah, Simone’s just crying at how fine Serena looks.”
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“This is women supporting women and I’m here for it.”
Viral Moments and Meme Magic
It didn’t take long before memes started circulating. One even paired Simone’s crying emoji with a zoomed-in shot of her doing a jaw-drop pose. Internet gold.
Media Outlets Pick Up the Vibe
Major entertainment and sports blogs picked up the interaction within hours. Headlines read:
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“Simone Biles Cries Over Serena’s Glow-Up”
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“Serena Drops a Flex, Simone Responds With Emoji Love”
The media loves a wholesome celebrity moment, especially one layered in subtle shade—or admiration.
Body Positivity and Representation
Serena’s Post: More Than Just a Flex
Serena’s “Jealous?” caption wasn’t just playful—it challenged beauty norms and demanded attention. It was a celebration of power, motherhood, and self-love.
Simone’s Reaction: Echoing the Movement
Whether intentional or not, Simone’s crying emoji reflected what many women feel—amazement at seeing bold, confident Black women unapologetically owning their space.
Why This Moment Matters
Representation in Action
These are two of the most decorated athletes in history, and they’re using their platforms not just to flex—but to inspire.
Women Supporting Women
This wasn’t a feud. It wasn’t drama. It was one powerful woman hyping another, in the most emoji-fueled way possible.
The Power of Subtle Celebrity Interactions
Micro-Moments That Go Mega-Viral
One emoji. That’s all it took. In today’s media landscape, even the smallest gestures carry weight—especially when they come from people who’ve changed the game.
Public vs Private Persona
Are We Reading Too Much Into It?
Maybe. Maybe not. Social media makes it easy to interpret everything. But if nothing else, it shows how much fans care about these two icons.
The Crying Emoji: New Symbol of Empowerment?
From Sadness to Sass
Traditionally used to express grief or sadness, the crying emoji has now morphed into something more fluid—sometimes sad, sometimes emotional, sometimes overwhelmed in a good way.
Simone’s Use Sets a Trend
Expect to see more of this emoji used in contexts of admiration and overwhelming emotion. Simone might just be leading another cultural wave—without even trying.
Behind the Scenes – Did They Talk About It?
No public statements were made post-emoji, but fans speculated whether DMs were exchanged or if this was all in good fun. Knowing their friendship, it probably was.
Social Media as a Celebrity Playground
Instagram Is the New Interview
Forget press conferences. Celebrities now speak volumes through comments, emojis, and likes. It’s fast, it’s real-time, and it reaches millions instantly.
Lessons We Can Learn
Uplift, Don’t Compete
Simone’s reaction reminds us: not every powerful woman is in competition. Sometimes, they’re just fans of each other, like the rest of us.
Will We See a Collab? Fans Hope So
Whether it’s an ad campaign, a charity event, or even a talk show moment—fans are hoping this interaction is just the beginning of more shared screen time between the two queens.
Conclusion: When Icons Acknowledge Icons
Simone Biles’ emoji wasn’t just a fleeting comment—it was a powerful nod from one legend to another. It captured the essence of admiration, empowerment, and sisterhood in the most internet-worthy way. In just one emoji, we got a full-blown mood. And the internet? Well, it wept.
