Canadian beverage company stirs controversy after Simu Liu raises questions about cultural appropriation

CNN
—

Controversy has erupted for a Canadian beverage company after its founders drew the ire of a Marvel superhero with an episode of a “Shark Tank”-style reality series.

On a recent episode of CBC's “Dragons' Den,” actor Simu Liu appeared as a guest star and potential investor. The owners of a Quebec-based bubble tea brand called Bobba were featured as they sought funding to expand their brand.

Bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea drink made with tapioca balls that has become increasingly popular in recent years.

Tensions between Liu and Bobba owners Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette were visible early in their pitch. When launching her product, Frenette described bubble tea as a “trendy, sugary drink” and pointed out that consumers are “never quite sure about the contents.”

Liu paused the pitch and said, “Wait, wait. I’m pretty sure about the contents, but go ahead.”

Calling Bobba a new twist on traditional bubble tea, Fiset said he and Frenette have “transformed this popular beverage into a convenient and healthier ready-to-drink experience.”

He added that they are “disrupting” the bubble tea market by using “three simple ingredients,” including high-quality tea, fruit juice and Popping Bobba, edible beads filled with fruit juice, according to the company's website.

Liu, who is of Chinese-Canadian descent, took issue with what they described as “disrupting” the market with their product, calling it “cultural appropriation.”

“It's about taking something that has a very distinctly Asian identity and 'improving' it, which is something I have a problem with,” Liu said.

When Liu later asked if there was Asian representation within their workforce, Frenette and Fiset said the company's “best partner” was based in Taiwan and created their recipes. According to the company's website, the flavors are “made” in Canada, while their pearls come “from our exclusive producer in Taiwan.”

Liu ultimately decided not to invest in the product, saying, “I want to help bring boba to the masses, but not like this.”

“I started this venture company for many reasons, but most importantly to support minority entrepreneurs,” Liu said. “Not only do I feel like that’s not happening here, but I also feel like I would support a business that profits from something that is so close to my cultural heritage.”

The exchange has since sparked some backlash, leading to Liu, the Bobba founders and “Dragons' Den” investor Manjit Minhas, who originally invested in the product on the show, releasing statements disagreeing with it Discourse and called for an end to the threats and harassment Frenette and Fiset have now received online.

Liu posted a video to his TikTok page on Saturday in which he said he believes Fiset and Frenette came to “Dragons' Den” to pitch their company “in good faith.”

“There were a lot of things in the pitch that I disagreed with and disagreed with. As a result, I have withdrawn as a potential investor, but that doesn't mean I think they deserve harassment and threats. “I think they should be given a lot of mercy,” he said.

“Dragon’s Den,” Liu repeated in a statement on Saturday.

The Bobba company apologized “for the harm we have caused through our words and actions on the show” and acknowledged in a statement Sunday that Liu “raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation and we welcome this learning opportunity.” “.

Fiset and Frenette's choice of words was “misguided” when they discussed the cultural meaning and origins of bubble tea on the show, the company said.

“We will re-evaluate our branding, packaging and marketing strategies to ensure they reflect a respectful and accurate representation of our Taiwanese partnership and bubble tea’s cultural roots,” the statement said.

The Bobba owners eventually made a deal with Minhas, who offered them $1 million for an 18 percent stake in her company after she said she thought there could be “new interpretations” of products like this, which don't always have to be traditional.

Minhas announced Sunday that she is no longer investing in Bobba “after more consideration, careful consideration and listening to many of your opinions.”

Dragons' Den aired for 19 seasons and is based on a Japanese show with the same concept that premiered in 2001.