"Shang-Chi" star Simu Liu has consistently championed Asian culture. Recently, while serving as a guest judge on the Canadian competition series "Dragons' Den," Liu challenged a startup presenting its "reinvented" bubble tea, accusing the brand of cultural appropriation.
Quebec-based startup "Bobba" appeared on "Dragons' Den" seeking investment. During their pitch, the founders described traditional bubble tea as a "trendy but sugary drink whose ingredients consumers aren't aware of." They then positioned their own brand as "transforming this beloved drink into a more convenient, healthier ready-to-drink experience," claiming to "disrupt" the bubble tea market.
Liu immediately took issue with the term "disrupting the market," suggesting it implied cultural appropriation. "Here's the problem," he stated, "you're saying you're going to 'make better' a symbol that has an Asian cultural identity, and that makes me a little uncomfortable."
In response, the brand founders quickly claimed they had "partners" from Taiwan who provided raw materials and customized recipes. However, Liu again questioned this, pointing out that their packaging provided no indication of any Taiwanese or Asian partners. Ultimately, Liu decided not to invest, explaining that while he was willing to introduce bubble tea to the world, he would not do so in this manner.
Following the episode's broadcast, "Bobba" faced significant backlash and boycotts online. Simu Liu subsequently released a video statement, emphasizing his belief that the "Bobba" team participated in the show with good intentions. "While I had some reservations and disagreements with their product's presentation, leading me to decline the investment, this doesn't mean I believe they should be harassed or threatened," he clarified. "I think they deserve a certain level of understanding."
He expressed his desire for the discussion not to escalate into a situation where "everyone is carrying torches, making people fear for their safety." Liu stressed, "I feel we've gradually strayed from the positive meaning of this discussion—our goal should be to educate the public that when promoting a specific culture and making the world a better place, the actions you take should respect that specific culture."
"Bobba" later issued an apology on its official social media platforms, acknowledging the validity of Simu Liu's concerns on the show. The company stated, "Our phrasing on the show was inappropriate, and our representation of bubble tea's cultural significance and origins was inaccurate. We will re-examine our brand, packaging, and marketing strategy to ensure they reflect respect and accuracy for our Taiwanese partners and the cultural roots of bubble tea."