Simu Liu called out a Canada-based bubble tea company for ‘cultural appropriation’ during a recent appearance on the show Dragons’ Den.
The actor, 35, served as a guest ‘dragon’ on the popular Canadian reality series this week, which sees aspiring entrepreneurs try to get a series of venture capitalists to invest in their businesses.
But the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings alum, who was born in China, was left unamused after he received a pitch for a ‘ready-to-drink’ boba brand from a pair of moguls.
Simu was furious that the creators ‘took something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity’ and failed to include where it came from in the pitch.
And he slammed them for ‘profiting off of something so dear to his cultural heritage.’
Simu Liu called out a Canada-based bubble tea company for ‘cultural appropriation’ during a recent appearance on the show Dragons’ Den
The tense interaction began after the moguls, named Jessica and Sebastien, explained that they were looking for a $1 million investment from one of the dragons for an 18 percent stake in their drink company Bobba.
The actor, 35, served as a guest ‘dragon’ on the popular Canadian reality series this week, which sees aspiring entrepreneurs try to get a series of venture capitalists to invest in their businesses
‘You know that trendy sugary drink (people) are queuing up for, but you’re not quite sure about its content?’ Jessica asked the panel.
Immediately, however, Simu seemed unhappy with the claim, and he interrupted, ‘Hang on, I’m quite sure about it’s content, but continue.’
‘Those days are over with Bobba,’ Sebastien added. ‘We have transformed this beloved beverage into a convenient and healthy, ready-to-drink experience.’
Sebastien explained that their bottled version of bubble tea was made up of ‘three simple ingredients,’ including ‘high quality tea, fruit juice, and the famous popping boba.’
He added that the beverage comes in various flavors, including watermelon, dragon fruit, and peach, and retails for about $3.99 at ‘major grocers across Canada, the US, and Europe.’
The panel of dragons – which was also made up of Venturepark CEO Arlene Dickinson, Minhas Breweries & Distillery creator Manjit Minhas, Clearbanc founder Michele Romanow, mogul Vincenzo Guzzo, and businessman Wes Hall – then began to taste the drinks.
But Simu continued to share his hesitations, as he said, ‘People have tried to bottle it up (in the past) but it’s very difficult to maintain the flavor.
But the Shang-Chi alum, who was born in China, was left unamused after he received a pitch for a ‘ready-to-drink’ boba brand from a pair of moguls named Jessica and Sebastien
Simu was furious that the creators ‘took something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity’ and failed to include where it came from in the pitch
‘There’s an issue of cultural appropriation here,’ Simu scathed. ‘There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and quote “making it better”‘
‘I thought (the taste) was fine, but I’m concerned about this idea of disturbing bubble tea because it’s something that’s very close (to my heart).’
‘There’s an issue of cultural appropriation here,’ I scathed. ‘There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and quote “making it better.”‘
Bubble tea is a beverage that contains tapioca balls called boba; it originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s, and has soared in popularity recently.
And while the tea-based drink has become a worldwide phenomenon, it is still heavily associated with Asian culture.
Sebastien fired back by telling Simu that the product has become so beloved all around the world that it’s not ‘ethnical anymore.’
When asked about their sales, he revealed that the brand had made $2.2 million in sales in the first year, followed by $4.6 million in its second year.
And now, he said they’re already set to make $7 million this year and another $14 million next year.
‘Clearly you’re doing very well,’ Simu said. ‘But what respect is being paid to this very Asian drink that has blown up around the world?
‘And is it in your teas, your product development? Who is on your staff, who is on your cap table that is providing that for you?’
Sebastien told the movie star that they have a partner in Taiwan who ‘makes the recipes and the boba.’
Bubble tea is a beverage that contains tapioca balls called boba; it originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s, and has soared in popularity recently (stock image)
Sebastien fired back by telling Simu that the product has become so beloved all around the world that it’s not ‘ethnical anymore’
Simu also bashed them for not including anything on the can that tells customers ‘where boba came from,’ adding, ‘I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses, but not like this’
‘We travel to Taiwan, we speak with them, they are part of our team,’ he insisted. ‘That’s really important for us. That’s the best part, the cultural part of our product.’
But Simu didn’t back down. He then bashed them for not including anything on the can that tells customers ‘where boba came from.’
‘I started my venture company for many reasons, but primarily to uplift minority entrepreneurs,’ he added.
‘Not only do I feel like this is not happening here, but 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.’
While Simu wanted no part of the company, which also sells alcoholic bubble tea and popping boba balls, other dragons were interested – with Manjit, Arlene, and Michele all making offers.
In the end, Jessica and Sebastien accepted Manjit’s offer of $1 million for 18 percent.
DailyMail.com has contacted Bobba for comment.
‘It makes me sad how successful this business is. It makes me sad that people are drinking boba (this way),’ Simu said to the other investors afterwards.
‘It doesn’t mean that they don’t have the opportunity to change and (start promoting boba’s Asian connection),’ Manjit fired back.
‘That’s true but there has to be a willingness,’ Simu told her, before she interjected, ‘They didn’t say no. If nobody else has told them that before, you can’t put that all on them.’