American tennis player Taylor Townsend has expressed deep regret for her negative remarks about Chinese cuisine, stating on Instagram, “I just truly wanted to apologize. There’s no excuse, there are no words. And for me, I just, I will be better.” The 29-year-old, currently ranked world No. 1 in doubles, is in China for the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Townsend recently shared videos showcasing local delicacies such as bullfrogs and turtles, accompanied by a light-hearted comment about discussing the food quality with HR. However, following online criticism, she issued a public apology on Instagram, acknowledging her privilege as a professional athlete to explore diverse cultures worldwide.
Notably, Townsend had a previous altercation with Jelena Ostapenko at the U.S. Open, where Ostapenko remarked that Townsend had “no education, no class” after their match. Townsend, who is Black, later commended Ostapenko for her social media apology, explaining that the term “education” was meant to refer to tennis etiquette.
Townsend is set to compete alongside McCartney Kessler in a potential doubles match against Kazakhstan in Shenzen, China, on September 18, with the victor advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.
