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 discussing traditional dishes that featured frogs, turtles, and sea cucumbers, labeling them as 'the craziest thing I've ever seen' and deeming eating turtle and bullfrog as 'WILD.'
The backlash followed swiftly on both English and Chinese social media platforms, leading Townsend to issue an apology saying: 'There's no excuse, there's no words and, for me, I will be better.' In the video, she elaborated on her privilege as a professional athlete to experience various cultures, stating she had 'the most amazing experience' at the tournament.
Previously, she had reacted on Instagram to unique dishes such as braised soft-shell turtle and dry pot bullfrog, which are considered delicacies in southern China. Her comments included misconceptions about bullfrogs being poisonous and showcased a clear cultural misunderstanding. As a result, she made remarks that many found offensive, resulting in the trending hashtag on Chinese platforms condemning her comments.
Writing on X, one user criticized her for her lack of cultural understanding, while another pointed out the offensiveness of mocking traditional foods. Chinese netizens expressed their frustration, with one comment on Weibo advocating respect for local customs and cuisine.
This incident emerged soon after Townsend's contentious interaction with Jelena Ostapenko, where accusations of lacking class arose during a competitive exchange on the court. Townsend and her team are now looking forward to their quarter-final match against Kazakhstan scheduled for Thursday.
The backlash followed swiftly on both English and Chinese social media platforms, leading Townsend to issue an apology saying: 'There's no excuse, there's no words and, for me, I will be better.' In the video, she elaborated on her privilege as a professional athlete to experience various cultures, stating she had 'the most amazing experience' at the tournament.
Previously, she had reacted on Instagram to unique dishes such as braised soft-shell turtle and dry pot bullfrog, which are considered delicacies in southern China. Her comments included misconceptions about bullfrogs being poisonous and showcased a clear cultural misunderstanding. As a result, she made remarks that many found offensive, resulting in the trending hashtag on Chinese platforms condemning her comments.
Writing on X, one user criticized her for her lack of cultural understanding, while another pointed out the offensiveness of mocking traditional foods. Chinese netizens expressed their frustration, with one comment on Weibo advocating respect for local customs and cuisine.
This incident emerged soon after Townsend's contentious interaction with Jelena Ostapenko, where accusations of lacking class arose during a competitive exchange on the court. Townsend and her team are now looking forward to their quarter-final match against Kazakhstan scheduled for Thursday.
