American tennis star Taylor Townsend has issued an apology after sparking outrage with comments about traditional Chinese dishes while in Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
The 29-year-old described meals featuring turtle, bullfrog, and sea cucumber as “crazy” and “wild,” which led to criticism across both English and Chinese social media platforms. Many accused her of mocking cultural food traditions.
Townsend later posted a video apology, admitting her remarks were offensive and pledging to “be better.” She acknowledged the privilege of traveling the world as an athlete and said she valued cultural differences as part of her career.