Serena Williams was named GQ's Woman of The Year. There's just one small problem.

Serena Williams has, quite rightly, been named GQ magazine’s Woman of the Year.

But there’s one small problem with her magazine cover that’s getting people up in arms.

Serena Williams, the Woman of the Year for @GQMagazine pic.twitter.com/GgumfOlRUG

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 12, 2018

The magazine made the design decision to put quote marks around the word woman.

Which, in hindsight, maybe someone should have rethought. Many have considered the choice offensive, especially given that the tennis champion has faced cruel taunts about having “masculine” strength throughout her career.

I can’t believe no one at GQ thought perhaps with misogynistic and violent trans insults that Serena (and Venus) have dealt with for the last almost 20 years, to not put woman in quotation marks. Editorial rooms are a fucking disaster, all over this country. I’m offended for her pic.twitter.com/97yaP18etC

— #ImWithStacey???? (@seabethree) November 12, 2018

@GQMagazine Please explain to me why GQ Magazine’s Editorial Team felt that quote marks were necessary on the Serena Williams’ Woman of the Year Cover. I Really Really Need to Know. I’m Expecting an Answer????????????????‍♀️???????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/qGNPNJI4Rq

— Y•S•A•N•N•E (@YsanneBueno) November 13, 2018

Someone I follow pointed out that @GQMagazine decided to put woman in quotes on Serena’s cover and I too am offended and disgusted knowing the gender slights and digs people still throw at @serenawilliams. https://t.co/um9oYV6Pr0

— I’m That Type Of Guy (@Marrrrcussss) November 12, 2018

However, it seems there may have been a good reason (well, a reason at least) for the quote marks being placed around “woman”.

As social media users pointed out, the 37-year-old has been wearing the designs of US fashion designer Virgil Abloh – who created a line for Nike specifically for her to wear during the 2018 US Open. (Remember that tutu?)

And here’s where context is key. Virgil, who’s also an artistic director at Louis Vuitton, has his own label Off-white, which lately has been putting quote marks around everything. The Nike shoes Serena wore on court also had quotation marks around the word “air”.

And it’s Virgil’s handwriting that the word “woman” is written in.

Serena Williams has been styled by Virgil Abloh recently for the Nike-Off White collaborations, and his signature has been “QUOTES” he actually hand wrote the “WOMAN” on the cover art. But I understand the controversy pic.twitter.com/XEMGwVlHYk

— aloisio (@therealAlcosta) November 13, 2018

It’s a design choice that, with context, makes sense, but without it, looks really bad.

Other Twitter users pointed out that the controversy could have been overcome if the cover had Virgil’s handwriting for the entire Woman of The Year phrase.

GQ tried to give the cover context in their tweet about the cover, but it wasn’t quite clear enough.

Announcing GQ’s Men (and Woman) of the Year 2018: @michaelb4jordan, @henrygolding, @jonahhill, and @serenawilliams (featuring handwriting by @virgilabloh) https://t.co/EpG3lKCJ3r #GQMOTY pic.twitter.com/6MgczSxSpq

— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) November 12, 2018

The magazine has a history of not making the wisest decisions when it comes to their Woman of The Year cover.

In 2012, the cover featured Lana Del Rey completely naked. She was carefully posed of course, but what readers had a problem with was that the three Men of The Year were fully clothed in suits.

What do you think? Should GQ have rethought the quote marks?