A staff member at the Parisian restaurant that Serena Williams criticized for allegedly refusing her a rooftop table has attempted to clarify the situation . The retired tennis superstar has been in Paris for the Olympics - but despite being a torch bearer at the opening ceremony, it seems the employees failed to recognize her . Williams slammed the high-end restaurant, The Peninsula Paris, in the French capital over her experience there.
Maxime Mannevy, an employee at the restaurant, wasn't on duty during the incident but has attempted to explain the incident. She spoke to Variety after communicating with a colleague who was present. According to the outlet, Williams arrived at the venue with another woman and a stroller, appearing "unrecognizable".
Mannevy explained: "When she came there were only two tables available and they had been reserved by clients of the hotel," adding, "My colleague didn't recognize her and feels terrible, but he told her what he would have told any other client, which is to wait downstairs in the bar for a table to become available. That was absolutely nothing personal." READ MORE: Boxer makes 'X' gesture after losing to Lin Yu-ting at Olympics amid gender scandal READ MORE: Dave Portnoy perfectly sums up Quincy Hall's epic comeback win in 400m Olympic final Earlier this week, Williams took to social media to criticize The Peninsula Paris, suggesting that she and her children were prevented from dining on the restaurant's rooftop despite her claim.