Powerful Ways Celebrities Called Out Sexism In 2018

During the final women’s match of the US Open, the umpire issued Williams a warning because he believed that her coach was signaling to her while on the court. This led her to smash her racket in frustration which led to another penalty, which led her to call him a "thief," earning her another penalty. The problem with this scenario was that Williams was punished for showing emotion — something that male players aren't penalized for as severely or as often.

“I can’t sit here and say I wouldn’t say he’s a thief because I thought he took a game from me, but I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things, and I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff,” Williams said. “And for me to say thief, and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark. He’s never took a game from a man because they said thief.”