A Canadian bubble tea company has issued an apology following accusations of cultural appropriation from Marvel actor Simu Liu during an episode of CBC’s Dragon’s Den, a reality TV series akin to Shark Tank.
The Quebec-based brand, Bobba, pitched their beverage to investors, including Liu, claiming to disrupt the bubble tea market by utilizing only three simple ingredients to create a “convenient and healthier” version of the drink. Liu, however, challenged the entrepreneurs, stating that their approach to “disrupting” bubble tea was concerning.
Liu expressed his worries about the potential misrepresentation of a beverage deeply rooted in Asian culture. “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,” he remarked during the show.
He also questioned the business owners, Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, about whether their team included individuals familiar with the cultural significance of bubble tea, traditionally made with tapioca pearls. In response, Fiset mentioned that their “best partner” is based in Taiwan, stating, “they make all the recipes, all the boba.”
The episode quickly gained traction on social media, prompting backlash against the owners of Bobba. In light of the criticism, the duo released an apology on social media, acknowledging the harm caused by their remarks and actions during the episode. “Simu Liu raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation, and we welcome this learning opportunity,” they stated.
They further committed to reevaluating their branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to ensure they accurately and respectfully represent their Taiwanese partnership and the cultural roots of bubble tea.
In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, Liu took to social media to clarify that he believed the entrepreneurs came on the show “in good faith.” However, he ultimately chose not to invest the $1 million (£765,000) they were seeking for an 18% stake in their company, citing the issues he had raised about their product. “That doesn’t mean that I believe they deserve harassment,” he emphasized in a video.
Another judge on the panel, Manjit Minhas, initially expressed support for the Bobba pitch and agreed to invest, stating that innovation could coexist with tradition. However, after reflecting on the ensuing social media debate, she decided against the investment, announcing on Sunday, “After more reflection, due diligence, and listening to many of your opinions, I will not be investing in Bobba Tea.”
In a video on her Instagram, Minhas revealed that she had to disable comments on her social media accounts due to the abusive messages she received since the episode aired. She concluded, “It is never OK to send hate and threatening messages to the entrepreneurs.”
