Taylor Townsend apologises after comments about Chinese food spark backlash in Shenzhen

Taylor Townsend apologised on Wednesday after videos she posted on Instagram in which she mocked Chinese dishes drew criticism on both English- and Chinese-language social media while she competes in Shenzhen.

The 29-year-old, the world's top-ranked doubles player, had filmed reactions to dishes served at a restaurant and a buffet during the team's stay for the Billie Jean Cups final. In the clips she can be heard saying: "This is the craziest thing I've ever seen... Imma have to talk to HR... [eating] turtle and bullfrog is WILD," and "Aren't those the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff?" She also appeared with teammate Hailey Baptiste making fun of a sea cucumber dish.

Townsend posted a video apology addressing the backlash, saying: "There's no excuse, there's no words and, for me, I will be better." She added that she recognised her privilege as a professional athlete who travels widely and values experiencing cultural differences, and said she had "the most amazing experience" at the tournament.

The initial clips prompted swift condemnation online. English-language users criticised Townsend for mocking another culture's food, with one social media post saying, "It's really offensive to mock other people's cultural food." Chinese social media quickly amplified the controversy, with the hashtag "American tennis player publicly insults Chinese food" trending on platforms such as Weibo. A post on Weibo said: "When you go overseas, respect the local customs and culture. You can choose not to eat it. There is no need to belittle our food."

Townsend's comments referenced dishes commonly considered traditional delicacies in parts of China, including braised soft-shell turtle with fish maw, dry pot bullfrog and sea cucumber, particularly associated with southern regional cuisines. Her apology video was posted after the criticism mounted across multiple platforms.

The incident follows a separate confrontation less than a month earlier in which Townsend and Latvian player Jelena Ostapenko exchanged heated words during a match. Ostapenko called Townsend "no class" and "no education," remarks she later apologised for, saying they were meant to address on-court etiquette and denying racist intent.

Townsend and her United States teammates are scheduled to face Kazakhstan in the Billie Jean Cups quarterfinals on Thursday. Tournament organisers and the U.S. team did not issue public statements about the episode as of Wednesday.

The exchange adds to ongoing scrutiny of athletes' conduct on social media while competing internationally, highlighting how remarks made in informal settings can prompt diplomatic and cultural reactions in host countries. Townsend's apology acknowledged the consequences of her remarks and signalled an intent to avoid similar lapses in the future.