Actor Simu Liu this week criticized two Quebec businessmen who offered him a drink on the Canadian version of “Shark Tank” while they “transformed” boba tea.
Sébastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, founders of a bottled boba and alcoholic tea brand called Bobba, were seeking $1 million for 18% of the company.
The company's product, featured in the latest episode of CBC's “Dragon's Den,” has sparked concerns online about cultural appropriation of the traditional Taiwanese drink, known as boba or bubble tea, which has become popular around the world.
The presentation of the brand provoked reactions from people who pointed out how traditional foods are often commercialized, ignoring their cultural significance.
Fiset claims it has “transformed this beloved beverage into a convenient, healthy, ready-to-drink experience” by listing just three ingredients: high-quality tea, fruit juice, and Boba’s “famous” Boba Boba. Its products include cans of alcoholic tea and packages of boba.
“We believe this company could be worth a billion dollars in the next five years because it is so unique,” Fisset said. He noted that the company just finished its second year with $4.6 million in revenue and expects to make $7 million this year.
After taking a sip from a bottle, Liu, who joined the show as a guest dragon on Thursday, said he thought it tasted “good” but was worried about the idea of “disturbing” or “disturbing” bubble tea. ”. He noted the potential for cultural appropriation, saying he “discusses the idea of taking something that is so distinctly Asian and making it better.”
Clips from the “Dragon's Den” episode gained traction online over the weekend, with many viewers supporting Liu and criticizing Bobba and the other dragons – many of whom ignored Liu's concerns and offered to invest in Bobba – For potential cultural benefits.
In response to the speech, Liu shared a TikTok video on Saturday noting that while he appreciated the support he received online, he condemned the harassment and death threats directed at Bobba's founders by internet users.
“I think we're starting to lose focus,” Liu said, “which is: Let's educate people. Let's make the world a better place. Let’s make people aware that some things are not right from a cultural point of view.”
He added that while his fellow Dragons were also receiving some criticism online for their seemingly dismissive attitude on camera, they were “all ears” in the break room to hear more about Liu's perspective.
Liu, a Chinese-Canadian actor known for “Shang-Chi” and “Barbie,” was taken aback as soon as Fisset and Frenette started talking.
“Dragons, you've probably heard of bubble tea,” Frenette said, before Liu quickly added a joke: “Never heard of bubble tea? “
Entrepreneurs refer to bubble tea as “the modern, sugary drink you line up for and are never sure of its contents” and “those Bobba days are over”—prompting Liu to interrupt again: “Hold on.” , I am sure of its contents. But keep going.”
Liu's comments about cultural appropriation drew some disagreement and laughter from his fellow Dragons, some of whom singled out Liu for starting the segment on a “heavy” note. Investor Manjit Minhas defended the Bobba founders, saying: “We can invent something new. Not everything has to be traditional.”
Fisset responded that popping boba makes the boba drink “no longer an ethnic product.” Minhas agreed that popping boba was new, saying she had never experienced it.
Bobba, according to Fiset, “took the version, the Asian version, and we made it with fruit, juice”. But popping boba, a topping that explodes fruit juice when squeezed, has already been a popular choice on traditional Asian tea menus for years—even boba is often paired with soft tapioca pearls.
Responding to Liu's further questions about the honors the brand is giving to “this very Asian drink,” Bobba's founders said the company works closely with a partner in Taiwan who develops the recipe and the boba.
“That’s the best part, it’s the cultural part of our product,” Fisset added.
One Dragon's Brian Scudamore also questioned whether it was a good or bad decision to call the Boba Tea Company “Bobba,” which shares the same pronunciation as “Boba,” the common name for the Taiwanese drink.
“I'm studying his can and looking for something that tells me where Boba is from and where Boba is in Taiwan,” said Liu, who is a general partner at venture capital fund Marham Valley Ventures. “You know, I started this venture capital firm for a lot of reasons, but mainly to promote minority entrepreneurs.”
“And I don’t think that’s what’s happening here, but I’m going to develop a business that profits from something that is so dear to my cultural heritage,” Liu added. “I want to contribute to bringing Boba to the masses, but not like this. So that’s why I’m out.”
Fiset and Frenet ended up accepting Minhas' investment offer, which met Bobba's initial request of US$1 million for 18%.
Representatives for Bobba and “Dragon's 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, called on his supporters 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 criticize this notion of cultural grace. Let’s talk about it,” Liu said. “But what we’re not going to do is threaten people’s physical safety and make people feel unsafe and traumatize them because, honestly, they don’t qualify as entrepreneurs who, in good faith, tried to make a business.”
