American tennis star Taylor Townsend has apologized after coming under fire for comments she made on social media about Chinese food.
The 29-year-old, who is in Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, shared videos on Instagram expressing her surprise at dishes featuring frogs, turtles, and sea cucumber. She remarked, This is the craziest thing I've ever seen... Imma have to talk to HR... [eating] turtle and bullfrog is WILD. The backlash was swift on both English and Chinese social media platforms.
Townsend, top-ranked in doubles, later apologized, acknowledging her insensitivity. She expressed, There's no excuse, there's no words, and for me, I will be better. In her video apology, she reflected on her privilege as a professional athlete, stating that experiencing diverse cultures is one of the joys of her job.
Her initial comments about traditional dishes like braised soft-shell turtle with fish maw and dry pot bullfrog — which are delicacies in Southern China — included concerns about the safety of eating frogs and turtles, expressing distaste in a humorous tone. She was criticized for her lack of respect towards a culture different from her own, with users on platforms like Weibo and X expressing their discontent with her remarks.
Following this incident, Townsend is under scrutiny, as her heated confrontation with Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko less than a month ago had already raised questions about her demeanor on and off the court. As Townsend prepares for her upcoming match against Kazakhstan, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity, especially for those with significant public platforms.
