American Tennis Player Taylor Townsend Apologizes for ‘Insensitive’ Comments on Chinese Cuisine
American tennis athlete Taylor Townsend has released an statement of regret after facing significant criticism for remarks she made on digital platforms regarding local Asian food.
The professional athlete, who is currently in Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, had previously shared videos on Instagram in which she commented to meals featuring bullfrogs, turtles, and marine delicacies.
She referred to the dishes as “among the most unusual things” she had ever seen, adding, “I’m going to have to talk to HR… eating turtle and bullfrog is WILD.”
Her remarks quickly drew strong reactions on multiple English and Chinese social media platforms.
The athlete, who is the number one doubles player, later expressed remorse, stating, “There’s no excuse, there’s no words and, on my part, I aim to be better.”
“I understand that I am extremely fortunate as a sports figure to be able to travel all around the world and encounter diverse traditions, which is one of the things I appreciate so much about what I do,” she shared in a clip posted to Instagram.
Townsend continued that she had “the most amazing experience” at the competition.
Prior to that, she had shared her reactions to meals such as braised soft-shell turtle and dry pot bullfrog, which are regarded as traditional delicacies in China, particularly in the southern part of the country.
In her original video, she questioned, “Aren’t those toxic? Aren’t those the ones that cause warts and boils and stuff?”
She also shared another video in which she and fellow player Hailey Baptiste were seen joking about a marine dish served at a dining area.
Social media users were quick to react. One user on a social platform wrote, “Won’t defend Taylor here, clearly offensive and reveals a poor awareness that there are different cultures other than the USA.”
Another added, “It is deeply offensive to ridicule other people’s traditional cuisine.”
On Chinese social media, the topic “US athlete disparages Chinese food” began trending.
One Weibo user commented, “While traveling overseas, appreciate the traditions and heritage. You can choose not to eat it. There is no need to belittle our food.”
This situation occurs less than a month after Townsend was engaged in a heated exchange with opponent Jelena Ostapenko, who had earlier directed remarks about her behavior on the court.
Ms Townsend and her teammates are scheduled to face Kazakhstan in the next round on the upcoming match day.
