Taylor Townsend apologized Wednesday after facing online backlash for Instagram stories in which she reacted with shock to dishes served at a dinner in Shenzhen ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup.
In a video posted after the comments drew criticism, the 29-year-old American said she was "sincerely" sorry and acknowledged her remarks were inappropriate. "I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart," she said. "There is no excuse, there are no words… I will be better. I’m really, really thankful to my country and to be able to represent them and be better. That’s all I can do. I just truly apologize."
Townsend posted the original stories on Tuesday night while dining with U.S. teammate Hailey Baptiste. The videos showed buffet items identified by viewers as dried sea cucumber, bullfrog and braised soft-shelled turtle with fish maw. In the stories she described seeing "people literally killing frogs" and questioned whether bullfrogs were "poisonous" and caused "warts and boils," and rated the dishes "a solid 2 out of 10." Those food items are commonly consumed and considered delicacies in parts of China.
Social media users criticized Townsend’s comments as disrespectful to Chinese culture and culinary traditions. The reaction added to public attention on Townsend, who was a focus of news coverage earlier this month after a heated on-court exchange with Jelena Ostapenko at the U.S. Open that prompted accusations of racial tension. Townsend is among the American players entered in the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, where she will compete alongside Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, McCartney Kessler and Hailey Baptiste.
In her apology, Townsend emphasized the privilege of being able to travel for her sport and the value she places on experiencing other cultures, saying she had "nothing but the most amazing experience and time here at the tournament, and everyone has been so kind and so gracious." She said her comments did not reflect her overall experience at the event.
Representatives for Townsend and for the U.S. team did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. The Billie Jean King Cup competition continues in Shenzhen, where national teams are preparing for scheduled matches later in the week.
Townsend’s statement follows a growing pattern of athletes and public figures facing scrutiny for social-media posts about local customs and cuisine while traveling for international events. She said in her apology that she recognized the impact of her words and committed to doing better as she continues to represent the United States on the international stage.
The U.S. team has said it will proceed with competition plans as scheduled. Officials for the Billie Jean King Cup have not issued a public statement regarding Townsend’s comments or apology.