September 18, 2025 – Tennis star Taylor Townsend issued a public apology on social media following backlash over her disparaging comments about Chinese food. The incident occurred during her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, where she posted a series of now-deleted Instagram videos mocking a local buffet that featured dishes like bullfrogs and soft-shelled turtles. In the videos, Townsend questioned whether bullfrogs were ‘poisonous’ and humorously suggested she might need to ‘talk to HR’ about the food. Her remarks sparked widespread criticism for their cultural insensitivity. Townsend, 29, took to Instagram to express her remorse, stating, ‘I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart.’ She acknowledged that her comments did not reflect her positive experiences in China and vowed to ‘be better.’ The incident has drawn attention to the importance of cultural sensitivity, especially for public figures representing their countries on the global stage.