Overview

• In Instagram Stories on Sept. 25, Williams filmed a vase of cotton at a New York hotel, said “Personally, for me, it doesn’t feel great,” then plucked a boll, compared it to nail-polish-remover cotton, and shuddered.
• The short videos were screen-recorded and widely reposted on X, TikTok, and Instagram, drawing millions of views and extensive media pickup.
• Reaction was polarized, with supporters citing cotton’s association with slavery and critics accusing Williams of overreacting or hypocrisy based on past cotton-related art and apparel ties.
• The hotel remains unidentified, and outlets reported no statement or response from the property.
• Alexis Ohanian publicly defended Williams, arguing context matters and calling coverage that used her ownership of Radcliffe Bailey’s cotton-themed artwork as a gotcha “breathtakingly stupid.”