Serena Williams Clarifies Her Steubenville Victim-Blaming Comments

After news broke late Tuesday afternoon that Serena Williams had some valuable opinions to share about the Steubenville rape case, it seemed only a matter of time before she’d have to come out and clarify those comments. That time is now.

In a statement on her website, Williams writes:

“What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved – that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written – what I supposedly said – is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

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. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.”

“Supposedly”?

A reminder that Williams told Rolling Stone, in part:

“I’m not blaming the girl, but if you’re a 16-year-old and you’re drunk like that, your parents should teach you—don’t take drinks from other people. She’s 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn’t remember?”

Update: The author of the piece, Stephen Roderick, told Poynter, “The interview is on tape. Other than that, I’ll let the story speak for itself.”