Taylor Townsend is apologizing for remarks she made expressing shock and disgust over the food at a buffet in China.
The 29-year-old tennis star, who is ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles, is in Shenzhen representing the United States at the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup. Her remarks were called culturally insensitive by many, including users of the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
“I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart,” Townsend said in a Sept. 17 video in her Instagram story.
“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 continued.
Townsend said her visit to China has been an “amazing experience” adding that “everyone has been so kind and so gracious.”
“The things that I said were not representative of that at all. I truly wanted to apologize. There’s no excuse, there’s no words. And, for me, I will be better,” she added.
Townsend’s apology comes after she posted a since-deleted video mocking the food at a local buffet, which included bullfrogs, soft-shell turtles and various organ meats, NBC News reported.
U.S. & World
Townsend asked in her video if the buffet’s bullfrogs were “poisonous” and wondered if those who ate them would erupt in “warts and boils.”
“These people are literally killing frogs — bullfrogs,” Townsend said in disbelief.
Townsend also reacted with revulsion when she saw the buffet’s selection of animal organs, which included chicken hearts and gizzards, according to NBC News.
“What the hell?” she asked of a selection of sea cucumbers. “This is crazy. I have never seen one of these up close, especially not to eat.”
Townsend was blasted for her rudeness on Weibo, with one of the platform’s users telling the athlete that “showing respect” while visiting another country “is basic courtesy.”
“It’s totally normal to come across foods that aren’t your taste when competing abroad,” said a second user. “But it’s really inappropriate to openly express disgust to the world.”
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY: