“Dragons’ Den” Sparks Controversy: Simu Liu Calls Out Bubble Tea Company for Cultural Appropriation
A recent episode of CBC’s “Dragons’ Den” has sparked a heated debate about cultural appropriation after actor Simu Liu, known for his role as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, publicly criticized a Quebec-based bubble tea company, Bobba, for their approach to the popular Taiwanese drink, CNN reports.
The episode saw Bobba founders Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette seeking investment to expand their brand. In their pitch, they described bubble tea as a “trendy, sugary drink” and claimed to be “disturbing” the market by offering a “healthier” and “convenient” version of the beverage.
Liu, who is Chinese-Canadian, took issue with their language, accusing them of cultural appropriation. “There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and ‘making it better,’ which I have an issue with,” Liu stated.
He further questioned the lack of Asian representation within the company’s staff, noting that their “best partner” in Taiwan creates the recipes while the flavors are “crafted” in Canada. Liu ultimately declined to invest.
The incident quickly gained public attention, drawing criticism towards Bobba and leading to online harassment against the founders.
Liu, recognizing the backlash, took to TikTok to clarify his stance, emphasizing that he believes the founders entered “Dragons’ Den” with good intentions but disagreed with their approach. He called for grace and understanding, urging the public to refrain from online threats.
Bobba, in a statement released Sunday, apologized for the harm caused by their words and actions. They acknowledged Liu’s valid points about cultural appropriation and committed to re-evaluating their branding and marketing strategies to ensure respectful representation of bubble tea’s cultural roots.
Despite the controversy, Bobba secured a $1 million investment from fellow “Dragons’ Den” investor Manjit Minhas, who believes that there can be “new takes” on products like bubble tea.
