A Canadian tea firm has surrendered to Shang Chi film star Simu Liu, who accused the company of “cultural appropriation” after introducing its version of a Taiwanese drink. Liu made his accusation on the Canadian reality TV show Dragon’s Den, in which would-be innovators and product sellers fight for investment money in a format similar to America’s Shark Tank series.
According to the BBC, the Bobba Tea firm of Quebec appeared on the show and stated that their goal was to “disturb” and “transform” the bubble tea market in order to make the beverage more “convenient and healthier”.
#WATCH: Toronto actor Simu Liu shuts down bubble tea pitch for cultural appropriation. pic.twitter.com/TtSUMH2E5b
— 6ixBuzzTV (@6ixbuzztv) October 12, 2024
“I’m concerned about this idea of disrupting or disturbing bubble tea,” the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star said. “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.”
The company’s owner, Sebastien Fiset, said that their recipes are prepared by a partner in Taiwan, but an unmoved Liu declined to grant the company money to invest in its products. The tea company’s owners soon began apologizing after a reaction against their “cultural appropriation” erupted online following the episode’s airing in Canada.
“Simu Liu raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation and we welcome this learning opportunity,” they said.
After backlash began to circulate for the way he handled the moment, he tried to walk back his comments on social media, telling followers to “be kind” to each other.
All this drama over tea with tapioca bubbles in it pic.twitter.com/QyamtAhX3h
— Bleeding Fool (@BleedingFool) October 16, 2024
Does this situation make anyone like the ‘Shange Chi’ star more, or less? Personally, I think he’s a fraud and an a-hole. I think the hosts of Clownfish TV agree with me.
Simu Liu MELTS DOWN Over Boba Tea and May Have DESTROYED a Small Business?!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Jamison Ashley
Comic geek, movie nerd, father, and husband - but not necessarily in that order. Former captain of this ship o' fools secretly training everyone's computers and snarkphone spell-checkers to misspell 'supposebly.'
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