Serena Williams abruptly bails on speech at Green Day's Walk of Fame ceremony

Serena Williams didn't attend Green Day's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony, despite committing to giving a speech at the event.
The tennis star, who has repeatedly called the East Bay outfit her 'favorite band of all time,' was scheduled to deliver remarks on Thursday, May 1, along with Ryan Reynolds, but only the ' Deadpool & Wolverine ' star showed up.
In her place, longtime Green Day producer Rob Cavallo gave a speech, sharing stories with the sprawling crowd about watching guitarist and singer Billie Joe Armstrong, drummer Tré Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt play for the first time in Berkeley and getting high with the trio on Indian Rock, which offers a view of the San Francisco skyline.
'It's kind of unbelievable,' he said at the beginning of his remarks, 'I'm taking Serena Williams' place.'
No explanation was provided for Williams' absence.
The event, which began at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, was emceed by veteran radio and television personality Matt Pinfield, who is still recovering from a massive stroke in January that put him in a coma for two months.
Reynolds, who featured Green Day's1997 hit 'Good Riddance' in his latest 'Deadpool' film, took the stage after Cavallo.
'These guys, they live at the intersection of both nostalgia and evolution,' he said. 'I don't think a band like this stays together this way and is this prolific for this long without integrity. I think it's like the bedrock of what they are.'
The comic actor also threw in a few jokes about Armstrong's nighttime skin care regimen and setting his colonoscopy to the tune of 'Good Riddance,' among other comments about the band.
Steve Nissen, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which is responsible for administering the Walk of Fame stars, closed out the ceremony by officially presenting the band with the honor.
'This is crazy,' Armstrong said while onstage, noting that the event was 'kind of like being at your own funeral.'
'This is for my mom,' he added. 'This is like my mom's Super Bowl right now.'
Despite being a no-show, Williams has proven herself as a diehard fan over the years, spotted in the pit at many of their concerts.
Green Day is set to head home later this month to headline BottleRock Napa Valley over Memorial Day weekend, before continuing with its ongoing 'Saviors' world tour.

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