US professional star Taylor Townsend has issued an apology after facing significant criticism for comments she made on social media regarding local Chinese cuisine.
The 29-year-old, who is presently in the Chinese city of Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, had earlier posted clips on social media in which she reacted to meals featuring bullfrogs, turtles, and marine delicacies.
She described the dishes as “among the most unusual things” she had encountered, adding, “I need to talk to HR… eating turtle and bullfrog is INSANE.”
Her remarks quickly drew significant reactions on multiple English and Chinese social media platforms.
The athlete, who is the world’s top-ranked tennis professional in doubles, later apologized, saying, “There’s no excuse, words cannot justify it and, on my part, I aim to be better.”
“I realize that I am extremely fortunate as a professional athlete to be able to journey all around the world and encounter diverse traditions, which is among the reasons I love so much about my career,” she shared in a clip posted to Instagram.
She added that she had “the most amazing experience” at the competition.
Prior to that, she had shared her thoughts to dishes such as braised soft-shell turtle and dry pot bullfrog, which are considered traditional delicacies in Chinese culture, particularly in the southern part of the country.
In her original post, she questioned, “Are these toxic? Are these the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff?”
She also posted another video in which she and fellow player Hailey Baptiste appeared to make fun of a marine dish served at a dining area.
Social media commenters were quick to respond. One user on X stated, “Won’t defend Taylor here, clearly disrespectful and shocks a lack of understanding that there are different cultures other than the USA.”
Another added, “It’s really offensive to mock other people’s cultural food.”
On Chinese social media, the topic “US athlete disparages Chinese food” began trending.
One social media user stated, “While traveling overseas, appreciate the local customs and culture. You can choose not to eat it. There is no need to belittle our food.”
This incident occurs less than a month after Townsend was involved in a tense exchange with Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko, who had previously made remarks about Townsend’s conduct on the court.
Ms Townsend and her teammates are set to compete against Kazakhstan in the quarter finals on the upcoming match day.
