Shang-Chi Star Simu Liu Defends Bubble Tea Brand from Cultural Appropriation Outrage!

Simu Liu, an actor best known for his role in the Marvel movie “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” is attempting to defuse a controversy involving a Canadian bubble tea company that has faced backlash online for its televised sales presentation.

During a guest appearance on Canada’s “Dragon’s Den,” a reality TV show similar to “Shark Tank,” Liu criticized the Quebec-based company Bobba for engaging in “cultural appropriation.”

The owners of Bobba, Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, appeared on the show to promote their new bottled bubble tea, which they claimed was no longer an ethnic product due to its “three simple ingredients,” including their signature “Popping Bobba.”

Liu expressed concerns over the company’s approach of repackaging a product that is distinctly Asian and claiming to “make it better.” He was also troubled by the fact that there were no Asian members on the Bobba team. Liu, who has started his own venture capital fund called Markham Valley Ventures to support minority entrepreneurs, decided not to invest in Bobba.

He stated during the episode, “Not only do I feel like this is not happening here, but that I would be uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage. I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses, but not like this.”

His co-investor on “Dragons’ Den,” Manjit Minhas, felt that Liu’s comments were somewhat excessive. Minhas offered Fiset and Frenette $1 million for 18% of Bobba. However, after further reflection and listening to public opinions, Minhas withdrew the offer.

The incident quickly spread on social media, with some users comparing it to the recent “spa water” controversy where a TikTok influencer was accused of claiming a traditional Latino drink, agua fresca, as a wellness beverage. The founders of Bobba also faced online backlash, a response Liu later condemned.

In a TikTok video, Liu stated, “It’s never OK to make threats, it’s never OK to bully and harass online. I don’t mean that the business owners don’t deserve valid criticism, but there’s a line.” He further added that the backlash can lead to “undue mental stress and trauma.”

Liu referred to the incident as an “unfavorable edit” and suggested the Bobba founders presented their business “in good faith.” He also hinted at potential language barriers, as English is not the founders’ first language.

In their apology posted on Instagram, the founders of Bobba clarified their comments about the contents of their product were referring to similar products found in large retail stores, not traditional bubble tea. They expressed regret for any harm or disrespect caused and took full responsibility for the impact of their actions.

They acknowledged Liu’s valid points about cultural appropriation and saw it as a learning opportunity. They pledged to re-evaluate their branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to properly acknowledge the cultural roots of bubble tea in Taiwanese culture and respectfully represent their Taiwanese partnership.