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American tennis athlete Taylor Townsend has released an statement of regret after facing significant backlash for comments she made on social media regarding traditional Chinese cuisine.

The 29-year-old, who is currently in the Chinese city of Shenzhen for the international tennis tournament, had earlier posted clips on social media in which she reacted to dishes including bullfrogs, turtles, and marine delicacies.

She described the food as “among the most unusual things” she had encountered, stating, “I’m going to have to talk to HR… consuming turtle and bullfrog is WILD.”

Her remarks quickly drew strong reactions on both English and Chinese social media platforms.

The athlete, who is the world’s top-ranked tennis professional in doubles, later expressed remorse, saying, “There’s no excuse, words cannot justify it and, on my part, I aim to be better.”

“I understand that I am extremely fortunate as a sports figure to be able to travel all around the world and encounter cultural differences, which is one of the things I love so much about my career,” she said in a video uploaded to Instagram.

Townsend continued that she had “the most amazing experience” at the competition.

Prior to that, she had shared her thoughts to meals such as turtle stew and dry pot bullfrog, which are considered classic specialties in Chinese culture, especially in the southern regions.

In her original video, she asked, “Are these toxic? Are these the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff?”

She also posted another clip in which she and fellow player Hailey Baptiste appeared to make fun of a marine dish offered at a dining area.

Social media users were quick to react. One user on X wrote, “Won’t defend Taylor here, obviously disrespectful and reveals a lack of understanding that there are different cultures other than the USA.”

Another added, “It’s really offensive to ridicule other people’s cultural food.”

On Chinese social media, the hashtag “US athlete disparages Chinese food” started trending.

One social media user stated, “While traveling overseas, appreciate the local customs and heritage. You can opt not to eat it. There is no need to belittle our food.”

This incident occurs less than a few weeks after Townsend was engaged in a tense confrontation with Latvian rival Jelena Ostapenko, who had previously made remarks about Townsend’s behavior on the court.

The player and her teammates are scheduled to face Kazakhstan in the quarter finals on Thursday.