American Tennis Player Taylor Townsend Expresses Regret for ‘Offensive’ Comments on Traditional Food
US professional athlete Taylor Townsend has issued an apology after receiving widespread criticism for comments she made on social media regarding traditional Asian food.
The professional athlete, who is currently in Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, had previously posted clips on Instagram in which she commented to meals featuring bullfrogs, soft-shell turtles, and marine delicacies.
She referred to the dishes as “the craziest thing” she had ever seen, stating, “I need to talk to HR… consuming turtle and bullfrog is WILD.”
Her remarks quickly attracted significant responses on multiple English and Chinese online communities.
The athlete, who is the number one tennis professional in doubles, later expressed remorse, stating, “I take full responsibility, there’s no words and, on my part, I will be better.”
“I realize that I am extremely fortunate as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and encounter cultural differences, which is one of the things I appreciate so much about what I do,” she shared in a video uploaded to Instagram.
Townsend continued that she had “an incredible experience” at the tournament.
Earlier, she had shared her thoughts to dishes such as turtle stew and spicy frog dish, which are regarded as traditional delicacies in China, especially in the southern part of the country.
In her initial post, she asked, “Are these toxic? Aren’t those the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff?”
She also posted another clip in which she and fellow player Hailey Baptiste appeared to make fun of a sea cucumber served at a buffet.
Social media users were swift to respond. One user on X stated, “Won’t defend Taylor here, obviously offensive and shocks a lack of understanding that there are diverse customs other than the USA.”
Another commented, “It is deeply offensive to ridicule other people’s traditional cuisine.”
On Chinese social media, the hashtag “US athlete disparages Chinese food” began trending.
One social media user commented, “While traveling overseas, appreciate the traditions and heritage. You can opt not to eat it. There is no need to belittle our food.”
This situation occurs less than a few weeks after Townsend was involved in a tense exchange with opponent Jelena Ostapenko, who had earlier made comments about Townsend’s conduct on the court.
The player and her teammates are scheduled to face Kazakhstan in the next round on the upcoming match day.
