Serena reaches out, apologizes to rape victim

Serena Williams reached out to the family of a victim in a rape case after the tennis star was quoted in a article saying “she shouldn’t have put herself in that position.”

Williams, in england preparing for Wimbledon, spoke to the victim of the Steubenville, Ohio case, her mother and a family lawyer for about 30 minutes on Wednesday, the lawyer said.

“Serena was very nice, very sincere and it was a very wellreceived conversation among two women and a young lady,” attorney Bob Fitzsimmons said on Thursday.

Williams apologized in a statement released through her agent on Wednesday.

“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

article,” the statement said. “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.”

The comment was made in one paragraph of a long story posted online on Tuesday about Williams.

The victim’s family welcomed Williams’ apology in its own statement on Wednesday, saying it was “proud of her” for the updated remarks.

“We are sure Serena has & will continue to use her God given talents to advance women’s equality and send the message that rape is never acceptable under any circumstance,” according to the statement released by Fitzsimmons.

“We are fans of Serena and will continue rooting for many more championships but more importantly watching her advance the cause of rape victims who are never to blame.”