Outrage as 'disgraceful' tennis fan wears 'blackface' to watch Serena Williams match
A "DISGRACEFUL" tennis fan has been blasted after she wore 'blackface' make-up to watch Serena Williams play at the Australian Open today.
A fan painted her face black for the match
The controversy was sparked during the world number one's semi-final clash with Polish star Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday.
The "distasteful" tennis female fan was wearing a black top and had painted her arms yellow, while holding a sign that read "keep calm and be Serena".
Her face was painted completely black.
The fan was with a friend, who had also painted her cheeks
What was she thinking! The level of insensitivity
Journalist from New Zealand, Russell Brown, tweeted: “There’s a Serena Williams fan in the crowd…wearing blackface.”
Mr Brown’s Twitter followers were quick to crticise the fan.
One user, blasted: “What was she thinking! The level of insensitivity.”
While another said: “Australia is a pretty racist country. Not at all surprised.”
Serena lost the final at the Australian Open
One tweeter described it as "distasteful".
While another fan posted: “Did anyone just see the girl painted in blackface for the Serena Williams match?! Disgraceful!”
The picture has been retweeted 747 times and favourited 262 times.
The fans caused controversy at the Australian Open
Serena beat her fourth-seeded opponent 6-0 6-4.
The US tennis star was the favourite entering today's Australian Open final and was tipped by experts to equal Steffi Graf's 22 Grand Slam titles wins.
However, the world number one was stunned by Germany's Angelique Kerber who in her first Grand Slam final emerged victorious.
The seventh seed won an exciting final 6-4 3-6 6-4 at Melbourne Park.