Taylor Townsend sparks racism outrage after mocking traditional Chinese cuisine

Tennis star Taylor Townsend has landed herself in hot water again, this time over her reaction to traditional Chinese food while representing the United States at the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen. Just weeks after being caught in a racism row at the US Open, the world No 1 doubles player found herself at the centre of fresh controversy after mocking the local cuisine at the tournament’s gala dinner.

The 29-year-old shared Instagram stories showing her disgust at dishes including sea cucumber, turtle and bullfrog, zooming in on one platter and writing, “What the hell?” In a separate clip, she rated the food “a solid 2 out of 10” and questioned why people would eat it. She even referred to frogs as poisonous and associated them with “warts and boils.”

The reaction was swift. Fans on X branded her comments “ignorant” and “super offensive,” accusing her of disrespecting Chinese culture. One user wrote, “If you don’t want to eat something, just leave it. Nobody forced you.” Another admitted, “I’ve defended Taylor before, but this was disgusting.”

The backlash was particularly sharp given Townsend’s recent experience at the US Open, where Jelena Ostapenko accused her of having “no class” and “no education” after a tense match handshake. Many saw Townsend as the victim of unfair treatment then, but this time critics argued her behaviour showed insensitivity.

Facing mounting criticism, Townsend returned to social media to issue an emotional apology. “I understand that I am so privileged as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and experience cultural differences,” she said. “The things that I said were not representative at all. There’s no excuse. There’s no words. For me, I will be better.”

Her comments have added to a turbulent few weeks for the American star, whose form on court has been overshadowed by off-court disputes. While she vowed to focus on her tennis and representing her country, the fallout from her remarks has once again placed her in the middle of an uncomfortable spotlight.