Naomi Osaka defends ‘Black Party’ at Roland Garros: ‘Celebrating being black will never require an apology’

On the eve of the 2026 French Open, tennis star Naomi Osaka found herself at the center of a social media firestorm after co-hosting an invitation-only dinner party for Black tennis players in Paris — an event she has vigorously defended as a celebration of Black excellence in a sport where she says minority players often feel isolated.

The event, which Osaka dubbed “the black party (RG edition),” was held at the private members’ club Soho House in Paris and was co-organized by doubles player Taylor Townsend.Among the guests photographed at the stylish soirée were defending women’s champion Coco Gauff, French veteran Gaël Monfils, Asia Muhammad, and retired star turned broadcaster Christopher Eubanks.

A dinner framed as representation, not exclusion

For Osaka, the dinner was never about division. In an emotional Instagram post, she described the “isolating” reality of growing up as a minority in a predominantly white sport, and the unspoken camaraderie among Black players.

“Growing up, there weren’t a lot of tennis players I could look up to that looked like me,” Osaka wrote. “Being a minority in a sport like tennis is very isolating but the positive is that you keep tabs on everyone that … being blunt, is black. There’s a fellowship, a camaraderie that doesn’t need words to describe. You just feel at peace knowing that there’s another person who has experienced similar things to you and you feel less alone.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion added that simply seeing other Black players succeed carried deep meaning. “There’s a saying, ‘when you win I feel like I win too’ … Our presence is a present and I’m so grateful for the gift of my peers.”

A defiant response to critics

The backlash emerged shortly after she posted photos of the gathering, with some critics on social media questioning why a race-exclusive event was acceptable in an increasingly globalized sport. Within hours, Osaka responded with a lengthy and unapologetic statement.

Acknowledging her own mixed-race identity — she is half-Japanese — Osaka wrote: “I love everyone for who they are regardless of their race + ethnicity (I’m literally half Japanese, hahaha). I can only speak from my experiences in my own life.”

She then pivoted to address critics directly. “Secondly, I feel it’s important to note that there have been dinners/parties exclusively for white people. I don’t know how else to tell you, I’ve literally seen them all the time and never had any issue with that.”

Osaka questioned why a gathering of people of color drew such sharp reaction. “To those who raise this question, I also want to ask this question, ‘What bothers you so much about POC coming together?’”She then invoked painful family memories of racial discrimination. “I grew up seeing how they discriminated against my dad, calling the police on him several times on the tennis court.”

The 28-year-old concluded with a firm pledge. “There are many things I will apologize for in my life, but celebrating being black and appreciating who we are will never be something I consider apologizing for.”

Mixed reactions online

Online opinion quickly divided. Some fans backed Osaka’s stance. One supporter noted, “Naomi should not have defended having her own dinner party for whomever she wanted. White people have dinner parties ALL THE DAMN TIME without any Black people present.”

Others, however, remained critical. Social media commentator Jon Root questioned Osaka’s defense, writing: “She defended the party by claiming there have been segregated white-only parties (Without proof, of course).”

Looking ahead to the French Open draw

As the controversy swirled, the tennis continued. Osaka is scheduled to face Laura Siegemund in the first round of Roland Garros. Having drawn the same quarter as world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, she could face the top seed in a blockbuster fourth-round showdown if both advance.Meanwhile, Gaël Monfils, making his final Roland Garros appearance, will take on compatriot Hugo Gaston.Defending champion Coco Gauff and co-host Taylor Townsend are set to meet in the first round — a matchup that briefly put their dinner-party camaraderie aside.

Osaka’s “Black Party” may be over, but the conversation it sparked appears far from finished.