News

Serena & Venus Williams’ half sister says they are helping frail dad but don’t want to be linked with love life drama

TENNIS STARS Serena and Venus Williams haven’t been seen with their frail father “King Richard” for years amid the drama of his chaotic love life, which has recently spiraled out of control.

They’ve remained silent as legendary tennis coach Richard Williams’s seven-year divorce from his ex-stripper wife sensationally ground to a halt earlier this month.

Venus Williams and Serena Williams appear to have remained silent but are supporting their dad in the backgroundCredit: Getty

King Richard is said to have been forced into dropping his divorce as he was too frail to attend courtCredit: John Chapple for The US Sun

Sabrina Williams is King Richard’s daughter from his first marriageCredit: www.thisischriswhite.com

Richard and estranged wife Lakeisha’s divorce has been thrown out of courtCredit: Getty

King Richard’s life appears to be unraveling at a time when he’s at his most vulnerable and suffering from major health problems.

But the sporting greats will never abandon their dad.

That’s the view of his eldest daughter Sabrina – despite her own bad experience with their father, who walked out on his first family when she was just 8 years old.

Earlier this month, he gave up on the drawn-out divorce from his much younger wife Lakeisha, 45, who allegedly “stole” the Williams’ family home by faking his signature on the title deeds and transferred it into her name, so that she could then take out a $279,000 loan.

Richard’s son Chavoita Lesane claims that he wasn’t well enough to continue the court battle with Lakeisha – yet her side counters that the divorce dismissal was an amicable decision and they’re very much in a “romantic relationship.”

Throughout this, there’s been no visible sign of Serena or Venus, or their other sisters Isha and Lyndrea.

But Sabrina, 60 – who’s been publicly critical of her dad’s behavior in the past – defends the family and says that their Jehovah’s Witness beliefs will be pulling them through.

“Serena has just had her second child [Adira, August 2023], we’re assuming that they’re not there, but do we really know that for sure? Why would Venus and Serena not be there?” Sabrina said.

“The family being present to a Jehovah’s Witness is very important. I believe they’re around, I just believe that they’re not letting it be known.

“I just believe from their faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses – it wouldn’t go well if they weren’t. They may not want to be seen in full view with all of what is going on around him.”

Richard’s been seen once on Serena’s Instagram in recent years, in 2021, where he’s filming her eldest daughter Olympia, 6, riding a bike along the pathway next to his luxury Palm Beach home.

Serena cutely captioned the video, “A rare sighting, the one and only G.O.A.T. still motivating … King Richard, but I call him daddy.”

After Richard lost control of the family home to Lakeisha, he moved into the aforementioned pad, which is owned by a firm affiliated with Serena.

“If he lives in a house owned by Serena, I really believe they have contact. You never see pictures of them together, but they will be involved,” Sabrina added.

“I know they’re going to treat their dad right – even if he didn’t always treat them right.

“They will be protecting him, they don’t want his image of King Richard seen in a different light, they’re loving their dad 100%, they just don’t want to be associated with the drama.

“They know the things their dad has done, but family, it’s the number one thing in their religion.”

Richard’s been through the mill with Lakeisha, who admitted in court docs that she’d also faked his signature once before, so that she could sell his 1999 Bluebird Wanderlodge Motor Coach, worth $45,000, claiming it was to buy food for herself and their son Dylan, now 11.

Court docs allege that after Lakeisha took his home, she got a huge loan from “hard lender” David Simon and blew the lot on a failed trucking business and “fast food and frivolities” – with Simon currently chasing her through the courts for the cash back.

The debt spiraled to $620,000 at one stage, including legal fees and interest – with it now looking very likely that she’ll lose the $1.4 million-valued home to pay Simon back.

But Lakeisha still clung to the marriage, with court records showing that she tried twice to halt the divorce. In June last year, she claimed that Richard was under duress from a third party and filed a motion for the case to be tossed out – a claim she repeated in January.

I know they’re going to treat their dad right – even if he didn’t always treat them right.

Sabrina WilliamsKing Richard’s Daughter

Now the case has been dismissed for good – unless Richard refiles.

This has all happened to the backdrop of Richard’s failing health – he’s had at least two strokes and his doctor, Monica Walker, told the courts he had dementia and irreparable brain damage.

Sabrina has huge amounts of sympathy, as through her job as a hospice chaplain, she deals with people who suffer from degenerative diseases.

“It’s sad because dementia is very hard for a family, sometimes they remember, sometimes they don’t. I know from my training as a hospice chaplain, they can remember an old school friend’s name from years ago, but not their own child,” Sabrina said.

“They should be given support, as it’s so tough for a family. It’s sad, there’s tears.”

Yet, with Lakeisha still on the scene, there is the prospect of a fight for Richard’s fortune if he hasn’t yet made a cast-iron will before his condition declines.

“His son [Chavoita] has power of attorney or something similar from what I believe, but Richard’s married, that’s his legal wife, so there’s a way for her to become his power of attorney, and have control of his money, that must worry his son,” Sabrina added.

Sabrina holds a picture of son Alphonse who she tragically lost to suicide in 2022Credit: John Chapple for The US Sun

Serena Williams watches her sister Venus play at the Miami Open back in MarchCredit: Getty

Venus Williams at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles last monthCredit: Getty

Related Posts

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 Offset involved in HUGE street brawl in Paris as star filmed kicking attacker in shocking video

Offset was seen being kicking an attacker during a huge street brawl in Paris on Wednesday evening. The Migos star, 32, who pocketed a huge fee for a brief appearance at a kebab shop in the city, was filmed in conversation with a group of people as he left a hotel, after spending time with French rapper, Gazo. Offset – real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus – climbed into his car before stepping back out again as a man aggressively approached him.

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 Ariana Grande shows rare PDA with boyfriend Ethan Slater as they hug on red carpet at NYC premiere of Wicked

Ariana Grande shared rare PDA with her boyfriend Ethan Slater at the New York City premiere of Wicked on Thursday night. The singer, 31, and the Broadway player, 32, both star in the highly-anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway musical and began dating after meeting on the film’s London set nearly two years ago. The couple have faced affair rumors as they went public with their romance shortly after their respective divorces in 2023.

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make decision on $6 million Kansas City home after terrifying raid

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce ‘are not taking any chances’ going forward after the Kansas City Chiefs star’s mansion was burglarized last month, sources have revealed. Kelce, 35, and his teammate Patrick Mahomes’ properties in Kansas City were both targeted by thieves in early October. The break-in at Kelce’s lavish $6million home in Leawood, Kansas was raided on October 7 – the same day the Chiefs beat the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead while Swift, 34, watched on from the stands.

Obviously I’m a nepo baby, I couldn’t help how I was born, says Brooklyn Beckham as he weighs in on criticism in a dashing shoot for Grazia

Brooklyn Beckham has weight in on the criticism nepo babies, like himself, receive as he graced the front cover of Grazia magazine. On multiple occasions the eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham, 25, has been accused of using nepotism to his advantage in his career. But the aspiring chef, hot sauce brand owner, entrepreneur and photographer has simply put the record straight.

Miami-bound flight crosses Atlantic but then turns around at the Canadian border and begins to return to Europe

A Stockholm-to-Miami flight was forced to turn around and head back to Europe after it experienced extreme turbulence over Greenland. The Scandinavian Airlines flight, which was supposed to take over nine hours, was almost complete when it was forced to make a U-turn and head all the way back following the alarming situation on Thursday. The aircraft returned to a base in Copenhagen to undergo checks and root out technical issues.

Did Temu put Homebase on life support? How DIY brand was hit by cheap Chinese retailers and fierce competition from Wickes and B&Q – as firm is handed last-minute reprieve

Homebase has faced tough competition in a crowded market that has intensified since budget Chinese marketplaces have entered the fray, retail experts said today. The DIY chain faces an uncertain future after years of pressure from rivals with similar product ranges such as B&Q, Wickes, B&M, The Range and Home Bargains. Homebase has also fought for business with online marketplaces such as Temu offering heavily discounted consumer goods mostly shipped directly from China.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *