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 the Chinese city of Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, had posted videos on Instagram discussing dishes that featured frogs, turtles, and sea cucumber. She described the dishes as the craziest thing I've ever seen, adding that eating turtle and bullfrog was WILD. This sparked immediate backlash on social media platforms.
Recognizing the uproar her comments caused, Ms. Townsend, the world's top-ranked doubles player, later stated, There's no excuse, there's no words and, for me, I will be better. In a subsequent Instagram video, she reflected on her privilege as a professional athlete to experience cultural differences while traveling for her sport.
The initial comment came after she shared her reactions to various food items served in a local restaurant, which included traditional delicacies like braised soft-shell turtle with fish maw and dry pot bullfrog. While these dishes are staples in southern China, Townsend humorously dismissed them, stating, These people are literally killing frogs... Aren't those poisonous?
The backlash escalated as her comments were trending on Chinese social media, where users expressed disappointment that an American athlete refused to respect local customs and culture. One user on X noted, It's really offensive to mock other people's cultural food, while sentiments on Weibo concurred, urging her to respect local traditions.
This incident follows a recent confrontation Townsend had with rival Jelena Ostapenko, where tensions also flared, leading to further scrutiny of her interactions in the sporting environment. As she prepares for her upcoming match against Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals, Townsend's apology reflects a deeper understanding of the cultural implications of her words and the need for sensitivity in cross-cultural contexts.
