In the story, Williams says that the boys who committed the crime “did something stupid” and asks if “it was fair, what they got?” She also speculates that the victim should have behaved differently, “unless they slipped her something, then that’s different.”
Williams’ statement, posted on her website, acknowledged insensitivity in her words.
“I by no means would say or insinuate that she was all to blame,” the statement reads.
Despite Williams’ going public with the statement, it only apologized for “what was written — what [she] supposedly said.” Williams said that she was reaching out to the victim’s family to let them know she is “deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article.”
As an iconic female athlete, Williams, a 16-time Grand Slam winner, says she has worked for gender equality.
“I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields — anything I could do to support women, I have done,” the statement said.
