Taylor Townsend draws backlash after mocking Chinese cuisine at Billie Jean King Cup gala

Taylor Townsend, a member of the United States Billie Jean King Cup team, drew widespread criticism after posting Instagram stories this week in which she mocked traditional Chinese dishes served at a tournament gala in Shenzhen.

Townsend, 29, who is the world No. 1 in doubles and part of the U.S. roster for the finals, recorded videos with teammate Hailey Baptiste as they examined a buffet that included sea cucumber, turtle and bullfrog. In the clips she said, "These people are literally killing frogs… bullfrogs. Aren’t those poisonous? Aren’t those the ones that give you warts and boils…" She later posted a separate clip and wrote, "This is the craziest thing I've ever seen .. and people eating this," and rated the offerings "a solid 2 out of 10."

The remarks triggered sharp responses on social media, with fans and commentators calling the posts disrespectful and culturally insensitive. Some users criticized Townsend for referring to diners as "these people," while others said that mocking local cuisine displayed ignorance and poor manners. Several posts urged athletes to show respect when visiting other countries and to refrain from disparaging foods offered at hospitality events.

Townsend is in Shenzhen as part of the U.S. team for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, the competition’s first staging in Asia since 1989. The American squad includes Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, McCartney Kessler and Hailey Baptiste. The U.S. was preparing for a quarterfinal tie at the time of the comments.

The controversy comes less than a month after Townsend was at the center of a highly publicized exchange at the U.S. Open. After defeating Jelena Ostapenko, Townsend said she was targeted by Ostapenko, who told her she had "no class" and "no education" during a heated handshake. Ostapenko, who is ranked world No. 26, initially denied racist intent but later posted an apology on social media, saying she had been referring to tennis etiquette and regretted the broader offense her words caused. Townsend said at the time she had not seen Ostapenko’s apology and was focused on tournament play.

Representatives for Townsend did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Billie Jean King Cup organisers did not issue a statement on the posts.

Athletes travelling internationally have frequently been advised to respect local customs and hospitality. Past incidents across multiple sports have prompted teams and federations to reiterate cultural-sensitivity guidance to players and staff.

The U.S. team’s progress in the Billie Jean King Cup and any potential disciplinary or internal discussions related to Townsend’s remarks were not immediately known. Townsend and her teammates were scheduled to continue tournament play in Shenzhen this week.