Boba Tea Company Canada Apologizes Over Dragon's Den Row

A Canadian dumb tea company has apologized after Marvel actor Simu Liu accused them of cultural appropriation in an episode of the Dragon's Den reality TV series.

In an episode of CBC's Dragon's Den, the Canadian equivalent of the US show Shark Tank, the owners of a Quebec bubble tea brand called Bobba pitched their drink to potential investors, including Liu, arguing that they were “disrupting” the popular bubble tea. Market using just three simple ingredients to “transform” the drink into a “convenient and healthy” experience.

Liu pushed back against the entrepreneurs, accusing them of using a Taiwanese drink, known as boba or bubble tea, that has become popular around the world.

“I worry about this idea of ​​disrupting or disturbing bubble tea,” Liu said as a guest on the star show.

“There's a problem with taking something that's very distinctly Asian in its identity and 'making it better,' which I have a problem with,” he added.

The Canadian-Chinese actor also pressed business owners Sebastien Fisset and Jess Frenet whether they have staff members who understand the cultural significance of the “very Asian drink” made with tapioca balls.

Mr Fiset responded that their “best partners” were in Taiwan – “they make all the recipes, all the dumb ones”.

The episode quickly went viral on social media, with users attacking the Bobba owners.

The owners responded with an apology on social media on Monday, saying they were sorry for the damage they had caused “by our words and actions at the show”.

“Simu Liu raises very valid points regarding cultural appropriation and we welcome this educational opportunity,” the business owners said.

They added that they will re-evaluate their branding, packaging and marketing strategies “to ensure that they reflect a respectful and accurate representation of our Taiwanese partnership and the cultural roots of bubble tea”.

Earlier Liu also tried to play down the feud on social media, arguing that the pair had come to the show “in good faith”.

He said he ultimately decided not to contribute the $1m (£765,000) investment Mr Fisset and Ms Frenet were seeking for an 18% stake in their company because of the problems he cited with their product.

“That doesn't mean I believe they deserve harassment,” Liu said in a social media video.

Another judge on the show, Manjeet Minhas, agreed to invest in Bubba, arguing that “new things can happen… not everything has to be traditional,” the first time Liu had heard criticism of the Canadian duo's pitch on the show.

But after a social media storm created the show, he changed his mind, saying on Sunday: “After further reflection, due diligence and hearing many of your opinions, I will not be investing in Bobba Chai.”

In a video posted on her Instagram account, she added that she had to turn off comments on her social media platforms due to the abuse she received from the show.

“Sending hateful and threatening messages to entrepreneurs is never okay,” he said.