Paula Badosa hits back after being criticized for making light of the China Open racism storm

Badosa was seen using chopsticks and pulling her eyes back in what was seen as racism. The incident faded away as such after the online backlash. But she revived the topic by joking on Instagram with said coach Pol Toledo, who posted the original image and thanked him for not getting her in trouble this time.

“Thanks for not posting a photo that will get me in trouble this time,” she wrote alongside an eyeroll emoji and some smiling faces. She quickly deleted this, but not before fans took to X to share it.

Badosa responded to two users who hit back at those who claimed it was inappropriate to joke about the first photo. “You know how I say all these things?”

“Who do you think you are to judge me without even knowing anything about me? I think this proves who you are more than me. If you knew me as a 1% you would know the kind of person I am that tries to find humor about negativity.

“Because people like you bring too much negativity into this world, I’m trying to turn the situation around. Because all this bullying is insane and ridiculous.”

“The story ended when I came out and apologized and took full responsibility for it. Go on. Jesus.

“It’s really tiring to see hate and criticism all the time on these social media. I had a problem, YES. But after that, people and fans in China treated me great. Because they UNDERSTAND that people can be wrong, they recognize it and correct it to then get better time and have another chance.

“But I still don’t understand what your point is. You can insult and bully people all the time on social media and that’s okay? This needs to STOP. Bye.”

However, the fan that pulled her on it wasn’t having it. “Dear Paula, the point is not that you are a positive person, but that you joke about racism. I know you apologized, but then you behaved like a victim. There was no need to bring back this history , but that’s what you did. You wanted to move so badly but you keep joking about it.”

To which Badosa himself responded by hitting back and telling the fan to be just that and not get involved. “Dear Dawid, I’m not joking about anything. I’m teasing my coach, don’t twist things. Do you see the difference? And the way you text me now is completely different, how you judge me and said how I was in the beginning as a person… Please focus on being a fan and leave the rest alone. That’s what you need to do,” she replied.