Last week, tennis star Serena Williams stunned everyone when she said she won’t be celebrating her daughter Olympia’s first birthday next month due to her Jehovah’s Witness faith.
“Olympia doesn’t celebrate birthdays,” the 36-year-old said. “We’re Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t do that.” While for most of us our knowledge of Jehovah’s Witnesses – which was started in the 1870s in the US – is their frequent door-knocking to try and convert you, a surprising number of celebs are followers or were raised in the faith. Here are 5 celebrities that are Jehovah Witnesses:
Serena and Venus Williams: The stars were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses by their mother Oracene Price, who converted to the religion in the 1980s. Serena has been more outspoken about the religion – constantly thanking “Jehovah God” for her success as a tennis player. In a recent interview she also said: “Being a Jehovah’s Witness is important to me, but I’ve never really practiced it and have been wanting to get into it. Alexis [Serena’s husband] didn’t grow up going to any church, but he’s really receptive and even takes the lead. He puts my needs first.”
Prince: Legendary singer Prince, who passed away in April 2016, converted to the faith in 2001 following the death of his mother. He described his conversion as: “a realisation. It’s like Morpheus and Neo in The Matrix”. A committed Jehovah’s Witness to the end, a memorial for the star took place at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses near his Minnesota home to commemorate his life.
4. Naomi Campbell: The supermodel’s mum Valerie is also a follower, telling noting in an interview that: “I brought up Naomi as a Jehovah’s Witness, but she must choose her faith for herself. I do give her literature on the subject though when she asks for it.” However, the model has not followed in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a believer.
5. Janet Jackson: The singer was raised in the faith as a child, but no longer practise it.
Photo Credit: Getty
