Naomi Osaka is letting the internet know she has absolutely zero regrets about getting together with her peers. The 28-year-old tennis star found herself at the center of some serious social media noise after hosting a private dinner for Black tennis players in Paris ahead of the 2026 French Open, but she is standing her ground.

Osaka teamed up with two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Taylor Townsend to put together the invite-only gathering, which they called the "Black Party (Roland Garros 'RG' Edition)." The link-up took place at the Soho House in Paris, and the guest list included big names such as reigning French Open women’s champion Coco Gauff, Gaël Monfils, Asia Muhammad, and Chris Eubanks. Everyone showed up in their best black outfits for a candle-lit night of good food, laughs, and shared stories.

Townsend and Osaka both posted recaps of the night on social media, with Townsend writing that the dinner was much bigger than them and great for the soul. While tons of fans loved seeing the link-up and fully understood the assignment, other social media users started complaining, claiming the event was exclusionary because white players weren't invited.

Osaka, who is half Japanese and half Haitian-American, didn't hesitate to address the backlash directly. She hopped on social media to clear the air, explaining that growing up in a largely white sport like tennis can feel incredibly isolating when you don't see many people who look like you.

She also flipped the script on her critics, pointing out that all-white dinners and events happen all the time without anyone batting an eye. She asked why a group of people of color getting together causes so much discomfort for some people.

Osaka also shared a personal note, mentioning that she grew up watching her dad face discrimination and even having the police called on him at tennis courts. She made it clear that while there are plenty of things she might apologize for in life, celebrating Black identity and how far these athletes have come will never be one of them.

Townsend echoed those thoughts, saying that because tennis is such an isolating, individual sport, it is important to break that mold, support one another away from the courts, and build real friendships.

Even with online critics, a massive wave of fans rallied behind Osaka and the rest of the players, creating a space to support one another. Osaka, who returned to the sport in 2024 after welcoming her daughter, is keeping her focus on the clay courts as the Roland Garros tournament continues this week.