Simu Liu asks fans to stop ‘bullying’ bubble tea brand amid ‘cultural appropriation’ stir

As a cinephile with a deep appreciation for culture and diversity, I find myself deeply moved by Simu Liu’s stand against cultural appropriation in the bubble tea industry. Having spent a considerable part of my life immersed in various cultures through cinema, I understand the significance of preserving authenticity and respecting roots.

Simu Liu is actively working to cool things down at a Canadian bubble tea firm following backlash against their TV advertisement featuring him as a Marvel superhero, which sparked heated discussions online.

As a passionate cinephile, I recently found myself expressing my concerns on CBC’s “Dragon’s Den,” a show reminiscent of “Shark Tank.” During this appearance, I pointed out the Quebec-based brand Bobba for what I perceived as cultural appropriation in their products.

Sebastian Fiset and Jess Frenette, co-owners of Bobba, presented a reimagined bottled bubble tea that, with just three basic components such as their signature “Popping Bobba,” is no longer associated solely with ethnic origins.

Raising concerns about Bobba’s model of “taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and ‘making it better,’” as well as its lack of Asian staff, Liu passed on the pitch. He added that he started his venture capital fund Markham Valley Ventures “primarily to uplift minority entrepreneurs.”

During Thursday’s episode, he expressed his feelings as follows: “This doesn’t feel right to me, and it’s troubling that I might support a business that seems to exploit something deeply connected to my cultural background. I aim to share boba with the public, but not in this way.

Meanwhile, his fellow “Dragons’ Den” investor Manjit Minhas called his comments “a little heavy.”

In response, Minhas stated, “It’s possible to approach things differently. Not everything needs to stick with the old ways.” Later, the venture capitalist decided against investing in Bobba Tea, explaining, “After further thought, careful consideration, and taking into account many of your suggestions, I have chosen not to invest in Bobba Tea.

The video of that part has been shared on social media platforms, and some people have drawn comparisons between the event and the “spa water” debate. This was when a TikTok personality appeared to appropriate a drink known as agua fresca, which Latino users quickly recognized. Bobba’s remarks sparked anger in others, leading them to criticize the founders online. Liu has since spoken out against this response.

He emphasized in his recent TikTok post that it’s simply unacceptable to issue threats, bully, or harass others online. He clarified that he doesn’t want people to misunderstand; business owners should not be exempt from constructive criticism. However, everyone can surely concur, using common sense, there is a clear line beyond which such criticism should not cross.

The “Kim’s Convenience” cast member expressed that both online bullying (dogpiling) and death threats unfortunately impact this space, stating further that, being someone who has experienced social media hostility, it causes “excessive mental strain and pain” that no one deserves to suffer.

Liu labeled the episode as having an “unfavorable editing,” explaining further that “everyone was listening intently” in the break room. Additionally, he expressed his opinion that the Bobba business owners had presented their venture “sincerely,” and acknowledged that since English isn’t their primary language, there might have been more chances for misunderstandings.

In their apology posted on Instagram, Bobba’s founders explained that their previous controversial statement, “you’re never quite sure about its contents,” was not referring to the traditional bubble tea formula sold in specialized shops. Instead, it was meant to apply to similar ready-to-drink products like their own, which are often found in large retail stores.

In their statement, they acknowledged that although they didn’t mean to hurt or disrespect the community associated with this cherished beverage, they accept full accountability for any consequences of their actions. Furthermore, they recognized Liu’s concerns about cultural appropriation and expressed gratitude for this educational experience.

It’s evident to us now that we should have consulted our Taiwanese associates about the proper attribution of credit for bubble tea’s cultural origins in Taiwan. We plan to reassess our branding, packaging, and marketing approaches to make sure they honor our partnership with Taiwan and accurately depict the cultural heritage of bubble tea.

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2024-10-15 01:01