Simu Liu slams Canadian boba tea company over cultural appropriation concerns

Liu, a Chinese-Canadian actor known for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Barbie,” seemed unfazed as Fiset and Frenette began their pitch.

“Dragons, you've probably heard of bubble tea,” Frenette said, before Liu quickly interjected sarcastically, “I've never, has anyone else heard of bubble tea?” What is Bubble Tea? I’ve never heard of that in my life.”

The entrepreneurs went on to describe bubble tea as “that trendy, sugary drink that you wait in line for and are never quite sure of its contents” and said, “Those days are over with Bobba” – prompting Liu to interrupt again: “Wait a minute, wait, I'm pretty sure about the content. But keep going.”

Liu's remarks about cultural appropriation sparked some disagreement and laughter from his fellow Dragons, some of whom criticized him for starting the segment on a “heavy” note. Investor Manjit Minhas defended the Bobba founders, saying: “There can be new ways of looking at things. Everything doesn’t have to be traditional.”

Fiset responded that Bobba's Popping Boba made the drink “no longer an ethnic product.” Minhas agreed that the popping boba was new and said she had never experienced it before.

Bobba, says Fiset, “took the version, the Asian version, and we made it with fruit and juice.” But popping boba, a type of topping that bursts with fruit juice when squeezed, has been a popular choice on traditional Asian bubbles for years -Tea menus – although boba is often associated with mushy tapioca pearls.

In response to Liu's further questions about the respect the brand has for “this very Asian drink,” the Bobba founders responded that the company works closely with a partner in Taiwan who produces the recipes and boba.

“This is the best part, this is the cultural part of our product,” Fiset added.

One Dragon, Brian Scudamore, also asked whether it was a good or bad decision to call the boba tea company “Bobba,” which is pronounced the same as “Boba,” the common nickname for the Taiwanese drink.

“I'm studying your can and looking for anything that tells me where boba comes from, and where boba comes from is Taiwan,” said Liu, who is a general partner at venture capital fund Markham Valley Ventures. “You know, I started this venture company for many reasons, but primarily to support minority entrepreneurs.

“And not only do I feel like that's not happening here, but I also feel like I would be supporting a business that profits from something that is so close to my cultural heritage,” he added. “I want to help bring boba to the masses, but not like this. That’s why I’m out.”

Fiset and Frenette eventually accepted Minhas' investment offer, fulfilling their original request of $1 million for 18% of Bobba.

Representatives for Bobba and “Dragons' Den” did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In his video response on Saturday, Liu, who has been at the center of several online controversies in the past, urged his followers to remember that bullying and harassment are “never okay.” He said he knows what it's like to be on the other side of the internet's wrath.

“Let’s criticize each other. Let’s critique this idea of ​​cultural appropriation. Let’s talk about it,” Liu said. “But what we will not do is jeopardize people's physical safety, make people feel unsafe and cause them the trauma that they, as entrepreneurs who have tried in good faith to sell a business, I honestly don’t deserve it.”