"I found out he was divorced before meeting my mother" - When Serena Williams' sister Isha opened up about their father Richard's other kids

Venus and Serena Williams’ half-sister, Isha Price, once expressed her feelings about finding out that their father, Richard Williams, had other kids as well. Isha is the daughter of Oracene Price, alongside her two sisters, the late Yetunde and Lyndrea, and Richard is their stepfather.

In 2021, the biographical film King Richard, starring Will Smith, was released. It tells the story of Richard Williams and how he coached the Williams sisters from Compton to win 30 Grand Slams. The movie sheds light on his unconventional methods, which were often misunderstood but played a key role in their success.

His ex-wife Oracene and her two daughters played key roles behind the making of the movie, alongside Serena and Venus. Lyndrea worked in the costume department, while Isha helped select director Reinaldo Marcus Green and ensured every detail was portrayed accurately.

During a 2021 conversation with Vanity Fair, Price discussed Oracene's reaction to the original script by writer Zach Baylin, which mentioned Richard's five children from his previous marriage—Sabrina, Richard III, Ronner, Relusd, and Reneeka.

“Zach was like, ‘How did you feel finally meeting Richard’s other kids?’ And my mother says, ‘I didn’t know about them,'" she said.

“I looked at her and was like, ‘Wait a minute. You didn’t know before they came?!’ I never knew my mom didn’t know,” she added.

Isha Price, however, never really confronted Richard Williams about it, stating:

“I’m not going to ask him [about] that. I’m sure he had his reasons. He had been married before. I found out he was divorced [before meeting my mother], and that was enough for me.”

Isha shares a close bond with Venus and Serena Williams, always cheering them on whenever possible.

Isha Price explains why Richard Williams was overprotective of Venus and Serena Williams

Venus Williams and Serena Williams | Image Source: Getty

Richard Williams was initially hesitant about the idea of his life being portrayed in King Richard, fearing he’d once again be shown in a negative light due to his strict coaching style with Venus and Serena. But Isha Price and other family members eventually convinced him, assuring that the film would offer an honest and respectful portrayal.

Isha told Vanity Fair in 2021 that Richard’s toughness and overprotectiveness stemmed from the need to shield Venus and Serena from other parents in the tennis world, who she believed were even more harmful in their approach.

"There were a lot of tennis parents out there that were more villainous. The reason that he took us out of—or took Venus and Serena out of—the juniors was because of the way that the parents were acting," she said.

While her sisters went on to become two of the greatest tennis players in history, Isha chose a different path and pursued a career in law. Despite that, she has remained deeply involved in both Venus and Serena’s lives.