Taylor Townsend Apologizes After Backlash Over Comments on Chinese Food
American tennis star faces criticism during Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen
American tennis star Taylor Townsend has issued a public apology after facing criticism for remarks she made about Chinese food while competing at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen.
The 29-year-old doubles world No. 1 had posted Instagram videos reacting to dishes such as frog, turtle, and sea cucumber, calling them “crazy” and “wild.” In one clip, she joked, “I’m gonna have to talk to HR… eating turtle and bullfrog is WILD.”
Her comments quickly spread across both English and Chinese social media, where many accused her of mocking traditional Chinese cuisine.
Townsend issues apology on Instagram
In response to the backlash, Townsend released an apology video on Wednesday.
“There’s no excuse, there’s no words, and for me, I will be better,” she said.
She added that she felt fortunate to travel the world as a professional athlete and experience different cultures, calling her time in Shenzhen “an amazing experience.”
Criticism on social media
The controversy began when Townsend shared footage of dishes such as braised soft-shell turtle with fish maw and dry pot bullfrog, which are regarded as delicacies in southern China.
In her posts, Townsend questioned whether bullfrogs were poisonous and made light-hearted but dismissive comments about turtles and other dishes. She also appeared in another video with teammate Hailey Baptiste, laughing about a sea cucumber dish at a buffet.
Chinese and international social media users quickly condemned her remarks.
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One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Won’t defend Taylor here. Clearly offensive and shows a lack of understanding that other cultures exist beyond the USA.”
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On Weibo, a trending hashtag translated to: “American tennis player publicly insults Chinese food.”
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Another Weibo user commented: “When you go overseas, respect the local customs. You don’t have to eat it, but don’t insult it.”
Not the first controversy
This is not the first time Townsend has made headlines recently. Less than a month ago, she clashed with Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko, who accused her of having “no class” and “no education.” Ostapenko later apologized, clarifying her remarks were aimed at tennis etiquette but acknowledging that her words could have offended many.
What’s next for Townsend
Despite the backlash, Townsend remains focused on competition. She and her teammates are set to face Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals on Thursday as they continue their Billie Jean King Cup campaign.