Taylor Townsend, the American tennis player, recently found herself in hot water after sharing a series of Instagram stories that conveyed her shock and surprise over some of the food served at a dinner before the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, China.
The 29-year-old posted her thoughts from a restaurant where she was with teammate Haley Baptist, but her commentary was met with backlash online, with many accusing her of being disrespectful toward Chinese culinary traditions.
“I wanted to take a moment to sincerely apologize,” Townsend stated in a follow-up video. “I recognize that I have the privilege of being a professional athlete, which allows me to travel and experience diverse cultures. This is something I genuinely enjoy about my career. I didn’t mind the tournament; everyone was really kind and welcoming.”
In her initial comments, Townsend filmed the buffet spread, which included unusual dishes such as soft-shell turtle, dry sea cucumber, and fish mousse—items considered delicacies in China.
“There are no justifications for my remarks… I’ll strive to do better. I’m thankful for the chance to represent my country and I just want to improve,” she added.
One of her stories expressed disbelief as she described the scene: “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever encountered… and people are eating this.” She further elaborated on one dish, saying, “Honestly, I’m very shocked. They’re actually killing frogs here… Isn’t that toxic? And they boiled it with chili and onions. It’s definitely not my cup of tea—maybe a two out of ten overall.”
Social media has been buzzing with reactions, and many users have taken to calling her out for her comments.
Townsend previously made headlines during the US Open for her intense match against Latvia’s Ostapenko, which prompted discussions about sportsmanship and criticism toward American players.
Looking ahead, Townsend is set to compete alongside teammates Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and McCartney Kessler against the Chinese team in the upcoming matches.
