17 celebrities supporting Naomi Osaka: Serena Williams and NBA’s Stephen Curry lead names speaking out after French Open withdrawal
- Japan’s US Open and Australian Open champ decided to prioritise her mental health after getting fined US$15,000 for opting out of a press conference
- Billie Jean King, Hollywood’s Jada Pinkett Smith and Patton Oswalt praised Osaka while the French Tennis Federation said her decision was ‘unfortunate’
Athletes, actors and other prominent figures came out swinging on behalf of Naomi Osaka this week after the Japanese tennis champion withdrew from the French Open to prioritise her mental health.
Among the many who voiced their support for Osaka last weekend were basketball stars Steph Curry and Lisa Leslie as well as tennis greats Billie Jean King, Venus Williams and Serena Williams, who said she wished she could give her frequent opponent “a hug” amid the fervour surrounding her actions.
On Monday, May 31, Osaka announced her departure from the grand slam tournament after winning her first-round match – and incurring a US$15,000 fine for opting out of a subsequent news conference. The ace athlete, who lives in Los Angeles, had previously stated that she would not participate in press events during the competition, citing a disregard for players’ mental well-being.
“I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that,” Osaka explained Monday in a statement on social media.
“I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media. I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try to engage and give you the best answers I can. So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences.”
“I feel for Naomi,” she said. “I know what it’s like. I’ve been in those positions. Not everyone is the same. I’m thick. Other people are thin. You just have to let her handle it the way she wants to, in the best way she thinks she can, and that’s the only thing I can say. I think she’s doing the best that she can.”