Chinese food became the centre of controversy in the lead-up to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals 2025. The row involves American tennis player Taylor Townsend.
The 29-year-old is in the Chinese city of Shenzhen for the tournament and could not help but express her disgust at the food served at the buffet.
The tennis had posted videos on Instagram in which she talked about dishes that featured frogs, turtles and sea cucumber, saying: “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen… Imma have to talk to HR… [eating] turtle and bullfrog is WILD.”
“What the hell?”, she said of sea cucumbers that were among the dishes available. “This is crazy. I have never seen one of these up close, especially not to eat.”
“These people are literally killing frogs, bullfrogs,” said the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
Taylor Townsend on the dinner buffet she saw in China:
“I’m honestly just so shocked at what I saw in the dinner buffet. As I go back and I look… these people are literally killing frogs… bullfrogs. Aren’t those poisonous? Aren’t those the ones that give you warts and boils… pic.twitter.com/IQHDp49yrZ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 16, 2025
Social media backlash after snubbing Chinese food
Townsend was quickly called out on social media.
Taylor Townsend calling Chinese people "these people" while making fun of/being disgusted at Chinese food and delicacies
Is that racist? pic.twitter.com/kLb4KhDyAF
— Corvath Draemir (@Archaicmind3000) September 16, 2025
“Won’t defend Taylor here, clearly offensive and shocks a lack of understanding [that] there are different cultures other than USA,” said one user on X.
“It’s really offensive to mock other people’s cultural food,” said another.
“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,” said one comment on Weibo.
“It’s totally normal to come across foods that aren’t your taste when competing abroad,” a Weibo user wrote. “But it’s really inappropriate to openly express disgust to the world.”
“The world doesn’t revolve around you,” another user posted. “It’s your right to choose what not to eat, but showing respect is basic courtesy.”
Also Read: US Open Mired In Racism? How Ostapenko-Townsend Saga Unfolded
The Apology
Townsend issued an apology Wednesday, saying that she has “had nothing but the most amazing experience” in China and that her previous remarks were “not representative of that at all.”
“I just truly want to apologize,” she said in a video on Instagram. “There’s no excuse. There’s no words. And, for me, I will be better.”
“I understand that I am so privileged as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and experience cultural differences, which is one of the things I love so much about what I do,” she added.
