Boba Tea Company Apologises Over Canada Dragons’ Den Row

A Canadian bubble tea company, Bobba, has issued a public apology after actor Simu Liu raised concerns about cultural appropriation during their pitch on the popular CBC show Dragons’ Den.

The Quebec-based bubble tea brand, owned by Sébastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, presented their product on the show, claiming to “disrupt” the traditional bubble tea market by simplifying the drink to just three ingredients. They promoted their version as a “healthier and more convenient” take on the popular Taiwanese beverage.

However, Liu, a guest investor on the show and star of Marvel’s Shang-Chi, pushed back against the notion of “disturbing” a drink that holds deep cultural significance in Asian communities. He expressed concern about the implication that the company was trying to “make better” a drink with distinctly Asian roots. “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,” Liu said during the episode. He also questioned whether the company had staff who fully understood the cultural background of bubble tea, often referred to as boba.

Fiset defended the company by pointing out that their best partner was based in Taiwan and helped create the recipes.

The episode quickly sparked a backlash on social media, with many criticising the Bobba owners for cultural insensitivity. In response, the company released an apology on social media, acknowledging the harm caused by their pitch. “Simu Liu raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation, and we welcome this learning opportunity,” the statement read. The company also committed to revisiting their branding, packaging, and marketing to better reflect the cultural origins of bubble tea and their partnership with Taiwan.

Simu Liu later addressed the controversy on social media, urging his followers not to harass the entrepreneurs despite their missteps. He clarified that his decision not to invest in the company was based on the issues he highlighted during the pitch. “That doesn’t mean that I believe they deserve harassment,” Liu said.

Another investor on the show, Manjit Minhas, initially agreed to invest in Bobba, arguing that new interpretations of products could exist without being bound to tradition. However, after the social media uproar, Minhas reversed her decision. In a follow-up statement, she revealed that after further reflection and feedback, she had decided not to invest in the company. Minhas also shared that she had received abusive messages following the episode, prompting her to disable comments on her social media.

The controversy has opened up broader discussions about cultural appropriation in the business world and the responsibilities of entrepreneurs when representing culturally significant products.