WATCH: Taylor Townsend drowned in intense boos from Chinese fans at Billie Jean King Cup Finals days after controversial food comments
Taylor Townsend, the American doubles world No. 1, faced a torrent of boos and jeers from the Shenzhen crowd at the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals on September 18, just days after her controversial social media rants about Chinese cuisine sparked widespread backlash. The 29-year-old, representing Team USA in the quarterfinal against Kazakhstan, walked onto the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena court alongside Jessica Pegula for the decisive doubles rubber, only to be met with intense hostility. The chorus of boos, captured on broadcast and shared widely on social media, underscored the lingering anger over Townsend’s “ignorant” and “racist” remarks, which she had apologized for but failed to fully quell. Despite the uproar, Townsend and Pegula powered through to a 6-3, 6-4 victory, advancing the USA to the semifinals against Great Britain or Japan.
The Comments: A Cultural Misstep Goes Viral
The controversy erupted on September 15, 2025, when Townsend posted a series of Instagram Stories from a Shenzhen buffet, expressing shock and disgust at local delicacies. “These people are literally killing frogs,” she said of a bullfrog dish, rating the meal a “solid two out of 10” and joking she’d “talk to HR” about the food quality. She also mocked sea cucumber and braised soft-shell turtle, calling the cuisine “crazy.” The videos, viewed millions of times, ignited fury on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, where hashtags like “American tennis player criticizes Chinese food” amassed over 85 million views. Users labeled her comments “offensive” and “racist,” pointing to ingrained stereotypes about Chinese food as “dirty” or “weird,” exacerbated by COVID-era biases.
Townsend, in Shenzhen for the BJK Cup—her first trip to China—deleted the posts and issued an apology video on September 17: “I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I understand how privileged I am as a professional athlete to travel and experience cultural differences. Everyone has been so kind and gracious here… The things I said were not representative of that at all. I will be better.” Despite the contrition, the damage was done, with fans accusing her of insensitivity toward regional cuisines like bullfrog and turtle, which are delicacies in Guangdong province.
The Boos: A Crowd’s Verdict
The backlash boiled over during the USA vs. Kazakhstan quarterfinal on September 18. Townsend and Pegula entered the arena for doubles after Emma Navarro’s 6-2, 6-3 win over Yulia Putintseva gave the USA a 1-0 lead, and Elena Rybakina’s 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Pegula leveled it at 1-1. As Townsend took the court, the 12,000-capacity Shenzhen Bay Sports Center erupted in boos, with chants and jeers echoing throughout the 1 hour and 30-minute match. Footage shared on X showed Townsend glancing at the crowd, her expression tense, as fans taunted her with signs reading “Eat the Frog” and “Respect Our Food.”
The hostility intensified after a net cord point in the first set, reminiscent of her recent US Open spat with Jelena Ostapenko, where she was accused of “no class.” Despite the pressure, Townsend and Pegula held firm, breaking Rybakina and Putintseva twice in each set for a 6-3, 6-4 win, securing the USA’s 19th quarterfinal victory and a semifinal spot. Pegula praised her partner post-match: “Taylor’s a warrior—she shut it out and played amazing.”
Backlash and Apology: A Cultural Clash
Townsend’s comments tapped into deeper sensitivities, with Weibo users decrying them as “belittling our culture.” “It’s inappropriate to openly express disgust,” one wrote. The backlash, viewed over 100 million times, echoed anti-Asian sentiment during COVID. Townsend’s apology acknowledged her privilege: “I love experiencing different cultures… I will be better.” However, critics argued it rang hollow, with one X post stating, “Apology after the boos? Too little, too late” (@TennisBuzz).
Townsend’s history of on-court fire—her US Open confrontation with Ostapenko, where she was accused of “no education”—has amplified the scrutiny. As doubles No. 1, her role in Team USA is crucial, but the Shenzhen incident risks overshadowing their campaign.
Team USA’s Advance and What’s Next
The win propels the USA, seeded No. 1 under captain Lindsay Davenport, to the semifinals on September 20 against the winner of Great Britain vs. Japan. Townsend, who clinched the doubles with Pegula, downplayed the boos: “It motivated me—crowds like that make you fight harder.” Kazakhstan, led by Rybakina, exits after a valiant effort, with Rybakina noting, “We played well, but their doubles experience won out.”
The BJK Cup Finals, hosted in Shenzhen for three years, continue with semis on September 20 and the final on September 21. Townsend’s controversy adds a dramatic layer, but her resilience ensured Team USA’s progression. As fans debate cultural sensitivity in sports, the American’s performance on court speaks loudest.
