Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actor Simu Liu got roasted after he accused the owners of Bobba Bubble Tea of cultural appropriation on the Canadian reality show Dragon’s Den.
(L-R): Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) and Katy (Awkwafina) in Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Ironically, Liu, who acts as a potential investor on Canada’s Dragon’s Den, a program that was originally inspired by Japan’s The Tigers of Money series, took issue with the owners of Bobba Bubble Tea and their assertion they were disrupting the bubble tea market with their product.
After testing a number of the products that owners offered and sharing his reaction that he thought it was “fine,” Liu accused the owners of “cultural appropriation.”
He said, “I’m concerned about this idea of disrupting or disturbing bubble tea because it’s something that’s very—. … There’s also an issue of cultural appropriation. There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and quote, unquote, making it better which I have an issue with.”
(L-R): Katy (Awkwafina) and Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) in Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
After listening to their pitch, Liu stated, “I am studying your can and I am looking for anything that tells me where boba came from, and where boba came from is Taiwan. You know, I started this venture company for a lot of reasons, but really, primarily to uplift minority entrepreneurs, and, not only do I feel like this is not happening here, but that I would be uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage.”
“I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses, but not like this,” he declared. “So, for that reason, I’m out.” Despite Liu’s accusation a bidding war between other members on the show ensued and the owners eventually chose Manjit Minhas.
Nevertheless, afterwards Liu stated, “It makes me sad how successful this business is. It makes me sad that they’re drinking boba with a racoon with sunglasses.” After Minhas pushed back, Liu retorted, “There has to be a willingness [to change] and I have to be able to invest in these founders, knowing that the change is possible.”
A story in 3 acts:
Two French Canadians pitched their Bobba bubble tea product on Dragon’s Den. They offered 18% for $1 million, looked to expand distribution into the US, and an alcoholic version of the drink. Simu Liu accused them of cultural appropriation. pic.twitter.com/zXv6w5FYtR
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) October 15, 2024
After the episode aired, Liu doubled down on his accusation in a post to TikTok, “First and foremost, I want to say I think we hit on a really important discussion about cultural appropriation, what it is, how is something exploitative rather than paying homage and respect, when is that line crossed, and in that conversation I’ve experienced a massive wave of positivity and support from every community and I just think that’s really incredible and I really appreciate that.”
“On the flip side, I’ve been made aware that the business owners have received a lot of death threats and harassment and otherwise just kind of bullying and dogpiling. And I just want to say that full stop it’s never okay to make threats, it’s never okay to bully and harass online,” he continued. “And I don’t mean that the business owners don’t deserve valid criticism and I don’t believe that you should not be vocal about your disagreement, but I think we can all agree common sense: there’s a line you don’t and shouldn’t cross.”
Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) in Marvel Studios‘ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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He concluded, “Let’s not cross that line. Let’s disagree with each other. 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.”
He then claimed their business was misguided, “Was it misguided? I believe so. Were they a little ignorant? Absolutely. But those are all human things.”
@simuliusome thoughts on boba/bobba 🧋lets be kind to each other!♬ original sound – Simu Liu
Liu also posted to X, “i truly do not care what you spend your money on. buy boba, or don’t, or buy bottled mass produced boba that feels weirdly appropriated, or don’t. it literally does not matter to me. all i ask… is that you not empty your life savings into altcoins and NFTs.”
Simu Liu on X
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Following these comments Liu was raked over the coals. YouTuber Nina Infinity pointed out Liu’s hypocrisy, “Aren’t you Chinese? Didn’t you play a Korean dude in Kim’s Convenience? Some, like you, might call that cultural appropriation. But hey, when it benefits you, who cares. Right?”
Aren’t you Chinese? Didn’t you play a Korean dude in Kim’s Convenience?
Some, like you, might call that cultural appropriation. 🤔
But hey, when it benefits you, who cares. Right?— Nina Infinity (@Nina7Infinity) October 16, 2024
X user Ziyupr wrote, “I’m Taiwanese and I love to see non-Taiwanese take an interest in our culture. I certainly won’t cry about cultural appropriation. One thing I don’t love: A Canadian-Chinese actor trying to represent Taiwanese people!”
I’m Taiwanese and I love to see non-Taiwanese take an interest in our culture. I certainly won’t cry about cultural appropriation.
One thing I don’t love: A Canadian-Chinese actor trying to represent Taiwanese people!— Ziyupr (@ziyupr) October 15, 2024
X user 300mirrors also noted, “You seemed to care a whole lot in that video while you were embarrassing those people who were so proud of their product.”
You seemed to care a whole lot in that video while you were embarrassing those people who were so proud of their product. pic.twitter.com/olHtYf55km
— Lily* (@300mirrors) October 16, 2024
X user Scratch_Point_Z might have had the best takedown of Liu. He wrote, “This was not a “learning opportunity” to welcome, it was a celebrity using his influence to crush an up-and-coming business by claiming they were stealing his culture despite already working with a distributor in Taiwan. Which, by the way, shouldn’t even be necessary.”
He continued, “It’s just funny to see an Asian trying to guard what he perceives to be his culture despite being completely Westernized. If that’s how he really feels, stop starring in Western media, stop playing Korean roles while being Chinese, stop speaking English, wearing Western clothing, etc.”
“You don’t get to keep ‘culture’ to yourself while willingly partaking in & benefitting from someone else’s culture. These people need to stop apologizing to eternal victims. Double-down & tell them their feelings on the matter are irrelevant. They need to be firmly told ‘no’ for once in their coddled lives,” he concluded.
It’s difficult to have sympathy for people who allow themselves to be walked all over.
This was not a “learning opportunity” to welcome, it was a celebrity using his influence to crush an up-and-coming business by claiming they were stealing his culture despite already working… pic.twitter.com/t9ToMlhDrQ
— Scratch Point (@Scratch_Point_Z) October 17, 2024
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As noted by Scratch_Point_Z after Liu’s lecturing of the business, Minhas rescinded her offer to invest in the company. She said on TikTok, “After more reflection, due diligence, and listening to many of your opinions, I will not be investing in Bobba Tea.”
And just like that, Manjit Minhas, once super excited about backing alcoholic bubble tea for distribution into the US, pulled her support, spoke about cultural differences, and begged people to stop threatening her online because it’s like really hurting her feelings, you guys. pic.twitter.com/jdihC7STY0
— Libby Emmons (@libbyemmons) October 15, 2024
Furthermore, the company issued an apology on Instagram and even declared that Liu made valid points regarding his accusations of cultural appropriation.
View this post on Instagram
What do you make of the responses to Simu Liu after he initiated a cancel campaign against Bobba Bubble Tea?
