Simu Liu Criticizes Canadian Boba Tea Company Over Cultural Appropriation

A Canadian drink company faced backlash after its founders clashed with actor Simu Liu on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, during their pitch for a Quebec-based bubble tea brand called Bobba. During the pitch, the owners described bubble tea as a “trendy, sugary drink” and claimed consumers are “never quite sure about its contents.” But Liu was taken aback by the “cultural appropriation” and responded “there’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and ‘making it better,’ which I have an issue with.” He ultimately declined to invest. The exchange prompted a wave of criticism and threats towards the founders, leading to Liu urging for an end to the harassment. Bobba issued an apology, acknowledging the harm caused and expressing a commitment to re-evaluating their branding and marketing strategies in a more culturally respectful manner.