By hannover-web.com In a recent controversy sparked by Asian-American actor Simu Liu, the Quebec-based company Bobba faced accusations of “cultural appropriation” concerning their bubble tea products. Following the backlash, the company issued an apology, stating they will reassess their “branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to ensure they respect and accurately reflect our partnership with Taiwanese collaborators and the cultural origins of bubble tea.”
Moreover, Canadian entrepreneur Manjit Minhas, an Indian-Canadian venture capitalist who had promised to invest CAD 1 million (approximately USD 720,000) in Bobba in exchange for an 18% equity stake on the reality show “Dragons’ Den,” faced a wave of criticism online. In response, she released a statement video saying that after further reflection, research, and listening to feedback, she decided not to proceed with the investment.
Simu Liu, who gained fame portraying the Marvel superhero “Shang-Chi,” has openly expressed his love for bubble tea in the past and was invited to be a guest on the new season of “Dragons’ Den.” Upon noticing that the Bobba brand’s packaging bore no recognizable Asian or Taiwanese elements, Liu challenged the company’s narrative. He criticized their marketing pitch, in which they jokingly mentioned consumers “waiting in line for bubble tea, never really knowing what ingredients are inside,” insisting that they owe respect to Taiwan, the drink’s origin, and he raised concerns about their approach being culturally appropriative.
The episode has generated significant buzz across social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where many users praised Liu for his principled stance and concurred with his viewpoint.
Meanwhile, Bobba’s social media accounts and those of Manjit Minhas received a flood of criticism, including irrational insults and harassment. In the face of this, Minhas has disabled comments on her social media, while Bobba founders Sébastien Fiset and Jess Frenette claimed to have been subjected to hate and death threats over the past two years.
In light of these developments, Liu released a statement reaffirming his position, expressing gratitude for the support he received, and calling on the public to show empathy and compassion towards entrepreneurs rather than resorting to threats, harassment, or bullying.
In their six-page apology, the Bobba team wrote, “We deeply apologize for the hurt caused by our language and actions on the show; we did not intend to disrespect or harm the community that created and popularized bubble tea, but we also take responsibility for the impact of our actions.”
