The film King Richard gives us an inside look at the lives of two of the greatest athletes: Venus and Serena Williams. And, though there are scenes that focus on Venus’ rising stardom and Serena’s underdog beginnings, the focal point of the film (as the title gives away) is their father, Richard Williams.
While most biopics focus on the “celebrity,” King Richard puts a spin on the story by telling it through Richard’s perspective. The film even opens with Richard, played by Will Smith, advertising his daughters’ skill to tennis coaches as a voiceover explains how he once wrote an 85-page plan on getting Venus and Serena to tennis stardom.
From the bat, we know Richard is obsessed (though some would simply say “motivated”). He’s so obsessed that he endured various struggles—from getting beaten in front of his daughters by a group of local thugs to almost committing murder—all for the sake of the game.
That’s the thing about biopics—you got to love them for drama and emotion, but for true stories? Um, not that much. Can’t say I believe Richard was willing to murder someone after spouting about his experience with gun violence and his fear of criminals. Doesn’t seem like everything he did in the film was factual—or was it?
What Parts of King Richard are true?
King Richard is (mostly) a true story. Of course, there are some embellishes here or there, but for the most part, the narrative is accurate. Getting beaten in front of his kids was a regular occurrence. He did removeVenus and Serena from junior competitions. (Even though the girls had garnered national recognition at a young age, their dad didn’t want to subject them to the pressures their contemporaries were facing.) He was from Louisiana and had various run-ins with the Klu Klux Klan. (At one point he disguised himself and beat a couple of Klan members in an act of revenge, he wrote in his 2014 memoir, Black and White: The Way I See It.) And, all those interviews where he repeatedly defended his decision of removing Venus from tennis competitions for three years? Yep, that really happened. (That scene where Richard interrupted one of Venus’ interviews to defend her against a prying journalist was based on a real interaction too.)
Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams, and Will Smith as Richard Williams in King Richard.
© 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
As for the scene where he decides on murdering someone? That’s also based on some truth. After getting beaten by gang members by the tennis courts, Richard returned with a shot gun with no actual intention of harm and scared them off, he wrote in his memoir, per Slate. On the drive home, he saw one of the gang members was beaten dead in the street.
Where is Richard Williams now?
As with most biopics, the film ends with real-life photos of its subjects. King Richard shows the various photos of Richard with his daughters, his daughters playing in competitions, etc. But what the film does not do is explain where the father is now.
Williams has done his job, so where is he spending his resting days? There have been reports that he’s been going through some health battles, which the family has not publicly addressed. But earlier this month, Serena shared a video of her father spending quality time with her daughter, Olympia Ohanian.
“A rare sighting, the one and only G.O.A.T. still motivating … King Richard, but I call him daddy,” she wrote.
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Melanie Curry
Melanie Curry is an Editorial Fellow for Men’s Health who specializes in culture and entertainment and has written for The List, Boston Magazine, and HelloGiggles.
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