"Taylor Townsend, American tennis player, expresses regret over comments made about Chinese food"
In the vibrant city of Shenzhen, China, where the Billie Jean King Cup Finals are currently underway, American tennis player Taylor Townsend has found herself at the centre of a cultural storm.
Townsend, the women's top-ranked doubles player, has apologized for expressing shock at some traditional Chinese dishes during her stay in China. Her comments, shared on her Instagram Story, sparked a notable outcry on Chinese social media, with the hashtag '#American tennis player criticizes Chinese food' being viewed millions of times on Weibo.
The dishes that caused a stir included turtle, bullfrogs, and sea cucumber, all of which are considered traditional ingredients in China and many other parts of the world. Townsend later acknowledged her privilege as a professional athlete and expressed regret for her previous comments.
The controversy began during a heated exchange with Latvian tennis player Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open. Ostapenko had commented about Townsend having 'no class' and 'no education,' to which Townsend did not initially respond with an apology. This led to further tension between the two players.
In response to the backlash, Townsend posted an apology video on her Instagram Story, stating that her comments were not representative of the kindness she had experienced in China. She also acknowledged that her comments might have been seen as prejudice and discrimination.
Ostapenko later apologized for her comments during the US Open match against Townsend. The apology video was posted in the midst of the cultural storm, further highlighting the impact of Townsend's initial comments.
As the US team prepares to play against Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals this week, Townsend's apology has been met with a mix of reactions. Some Chinese social media users have expressed understanding, while others have felt the need to remind Townsend of the importance of cultural respect.
One comment on Weibo stated: 'It's normal not to eat offal, bullfrogs, turtles. As a Chinese, I don't eat these either, but you have to show respect. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean everyone feels the same.'
CNN's Fred He contributed reporting.
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