Taylor Townsend’s season has been anything but quiet. A month after her U.S. Open win over Jelena Ostapenko turned sour with a handshake spat that blew up into accusations of racism and poor sportsmanship, the 29-year-old is facing a new wave of criticism – this time for remarks about Chinese food.
Townsend is in Shenzhen, China, competing at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The tournament is back in Asia for the first time since 1989, and she joins a U.S. squad led by Jessica Pegula alongside Emma Navarro, McCartney Kessler, and Hailey Baptiste. But before Team USA even hit the court, Townsend drew headlines for all the wrong reasons.
At the tournament’s official gala, Townsend took to Instagram to share her disgust at a buffet of traditional Chinese delicacies, including sea cucumber, turtle, and bullfrog. She zoomed in on dishes, writing, “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen… and people eating this.” In another video, she asked, “Aren’t bullfrogs poisonous? Aren’t those the ones that give you warts and boils?”
“So Disrespectful”: Fans Fire Back
The reaction was swift. Tennis fans from around the globe blasted her posts as “ignorant,” “classless,” and “insulting to Chinese culture.” Many pointed out the irony: just weeks ago, Townsend was on the receiving end of verbal attacks when Ostapenko accused her of having “no class” after their U.S. Open clash.
“This is very offensive, to mock other people’s cultural food,” one fan wrote on X. Another added: “She doesn’t have to like it, but mocking food she’s been welcomed with is so disrespectful.”
Townsend later walked back her remarks, posting a video apology on Instagram. “I just wanted to truly apologize,” she said. “There’s no excuse. I understand how privileged I am to travel the world and experience different cultures. I will be better.”
For Team USA, the timing is far from ideal. The Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals await, but Townsend’s social media misstep has become the storyline overshadowing her on-court presence. And for a player long seen as a symbol of resilience, this latest controversy could be a lasting setback in her image off the court.
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