Simu Liu Addresses Bullying After Calling Out Bubble Tea Company for Cultural Appropriation

Simu Liu sparked a dialog about cultural appropriation and bubble tea after an look on Dragons’ Den.

The 35-year-old star appeared on a current episode of the present, which is a Canadian twist on Shark Tank the place companies current their concepts and search backing from tycoons, generally known as Dragons.

On the present, an organization known as Bobba offered their marketing strategy and defined how they have been placing their very own spin on bubble tea (also called boba tea), a standard Taiwanese drink.

However, Simu took situation with thought, declaring that it may verge on cultural appropriation. After the episode aired, he took to social media to name out bullying that the enterprise and different Dragons on the present acquired.

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On the present, Simu opined that “this idea of ‘disrupting’ or ‘disturbing’ bubble tea” was troubling, through NBC News.

He continued, explaining that he didn’t like the angle of “taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and, quote unquote, making it better.”

Simu opted out of backing the enterprise. However, Manjit Minhas was and did enter an settlement for funding. After Simu‘s feedback went viral, she took to social media to disclose that she was now not investing.

“I believe wholeheartedly, our cultures are meant to be shared, and this includes food, drink, clothing, dance, languages and weddings,” she wrote on Instagram. “Those of us like Simu and I who have platforms to do so always try to use these platforms to educate and enjoy and explore all cultures. It is Cha or Chai depending on where you’re from not Chai Tea, it is Naan notnaan bread. Sharing cultures increases understanding and brings peace on earth, something our planet could use.”

She additionally identified that the enterprise was being harassed. In a video on TikTok, Simu additionally addressed the bullying that got here out of the dialogue.

“I think we’re starting to lose the plot,” he mentioned. “Which is: Let’s educate people. Let’s make the world a better place. Let’s make people aware that certain things aren’t OK from a cultural perspective.”

He continued, saying, “Let’s critique each other. Let’s critique this idea of cultural appropriation. Let’s talk about it. But what we’re not going to do is threaten people’s physical safety and make people feel unsafe and cause them trauma that, quite honestly, they don’t deserve as entrepreneurs who, in good faith, attempted to pitch a business.”

The founders of Bobba additionally took to TikTok to reply.

In an announcement, they wrote that they “deeply apologize for the harm we have caused by our words and actions on the show” and “welcomed” the chance to study extra.

They introduced plans to “re-evaluate our branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to ensure that they reflect a respectful and accurate representation of our Taiwanese partnership and bubble tea’s cultural roots.”