American Tennis Star Taylor Townsend Apologizes for ‘Insensitive’ Comments on Chinese Cuisine
US professional star Taylor Townsend has released an statement of regret after facing widespread backlash for remarks she made on social media regarding traditional Asian food.
The 29-year-old, who is currently in Shenzhen for the international tennis tournament, had earlier shared clips on Instagram in which she reacted to meals featuring frogs, soft-shell turtles, and sea cucumber.
She described the food as “among the most unusual things” she had ever seen, stating, “I’m going to have to talk to HR… consuming turtle and bullfrog is WILD.”
Her comments quickly attracted significant reactions on both English and Chinese social media platforms.
The athlete, who is the world’s top-ranked tennis professional in doubles, later apologized, saying, “I take full responsibility, words cannot justify it and, on my part, I will be better.”
“I realize that I am so privileged as a sports figure to be able to journey all around the world and encounter cultural differences, which is among the reasons I appreciate so much about my career,” she shared in a video uploaded to her social media.
She added that she had “an incredible experience” at the tournament.
Prior to that, she had shared her reactions to dishes such as braised soft-shell turtle and dry pot bullfrog, which are regarded as classic delicacies in Chinese culture, especially in the southern regions.
In her original post, she questioned, “Aren’t those toxic? Aren’t those the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff?”
She also shared another clip in which she and fellow player Hailey Baptiste appeared to make fun of a sea cucumber offered at a buffet.
Social media users were swift to respond. One individual on a social platform stated, “Cannot support Taylor here, clearly disrespectful and shocks a poor awareness that there are different cultures other than America.”
Another added, “It is deeply offensive to mock other people’s traditional cuisine.”
On Chinese social media, the topic “US athlete disparages Chinese food” started gaining traction.
One social media user commented, “While traveling overseas, respect the traditions and heritage. You can opt not to eat it. There is no need to belittle our food.”
This incident comes less than a few weeks after Townsend was engaged in a tense exchange with Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko, who had earlier made remarks about Townsend’s conduct on the court.
Ms Townsend and her team are scheduled to compete against Kazakhstan in the quarter finals on Thursday.
