US Tennis Star Faces Criticism in China for Mocking Local Cuisine

American tennis star Taylor Townsend has issued a public apology after drawing criticism for remarks about Chinese cuisine during her trip to Shenzhen for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

In a series of Instagram posts, Townsend reacted to traditional dishes such as braised turtle, bullfrog, and sea cucumber, calling them “crazy” and “wild.” The videos quickly went viral, sparking debate across both English-speaking and Chinese social media platforms.

Many users accused her of cultural insensitivity, with comments on Weibo trending under the hashtag “American tennis player publicly insults Chinese food.”

Critics emphasized that while visitors do not have to consume certain dishes, mocking them is considered offensive. Townsend later posted a video apology acknowledging her privilege as an athlete who travels internationally and promising to be “better.”

Traditional delicacies such as frog and turtle are staples in parts of southern China, where culinary customs hold strong cultural significance.

The controversy comes just weeks after Townsend was involved in a heated on-court clash with Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko during the US Open, in which Ostapenko accused her of having “no class.”