\u201cI just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart,\u201d Townsend said in a Sept. 17 video in\u00a0her Instagram story<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n Townsend said her visit to China has been an \u201camazing experience\u201d adding that \u201ceveryone has been so kind and so gracious.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe things that I said were not representative of that at all. I truly wanted to apologize. There\u2019s no excuse, there\u2019s no words. And, for me, I will be better,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n 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,\u00a0NBC News reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Townsend asked in her video if the buffet\u2019s bullfrogs were \u201cpoisonous\u201d and wondered if those who ate them would erupt in \u201cwarts and boils.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese people are literally killing frogs \u2014 bullfrogs,\u201d Townsend said in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n Townsend also reacted with revulsion when she saw the buffet\u2019s selection of animal organs, which included chicken hearts and gizzards, according to NBC News.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d she asked of a selection of sea cucumbers. \u201cThis is crazy. I have never seen one of these up close, especially not to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n Townsend was blasted for her rudeness on\u00a0Weibo<\/a>, with one of the platform\u2019s users telling the athlete that \u201cshowing respect\u201d while visiting another country \u201cis basic courtesy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s totally normal to come across foods that aren\u2019t your taste when competing abroad,\u201d said a second user. \u201cBut it\u2019s really inappropriate to openly express disgust to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n This story first\u00a0appeared on TODAY.com<\/a>. More from TODAY:<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Taylor-townsend\"](\"https:\/\/ots.nbcwpshield.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/taylor-townsend-zz-250917-01-9b7bce.jpg.avif?w=900\")
The 29-year-old tennis star said her visit to China had been an “amazing experience” and that her remarks about the food “were not representative of that at all.” (@tay_taytownsend via Instagram)<\/p>\n