Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is trending again—and, as per usual, it’s not for reasons that flatter him. This time it all stemmed from a disagreement over race between Simu Liu and conservative commentator Vince Dao.
The latest Simu drama occurred when Dao commented on a viral post showing a man eating rice with his hands. Dao, who is Vietnamese and Italian, called the practice “gross” and “barbaric,” clarifying that it was not part of his own family’s traditions.
His remark, while blunt, was clearly framed through his own cultural lens. But Simu Liu took personal offense—and his response quickly became the bigger story.
Simu Liu’s Profanity-Laced Reaction
In a lengthy and profanity-filled reply, Liu accused Dao of “putting [his] own culture down to try to make [himself] more palatable to white conservatives.”
you don’t have authority on jack shit, you’re just putting your own culture down to try to make yourself more palatable to white conservatives you dumb bitch. acting like people dont get their hands dirty eating pizza or ribs or tacos. stfu
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) October 24, 2025
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Dao, in turn, simply replied: “Is this guy famous or something because I have no idea who he is?”
Is this guy famous or something because I don’t know who he is https://t.co/toVwC04oxo
— Vince Dao (@VinceDaoTV) October 24, 2025
Screenshots of the exchange flooded X, and Liu was once again the subject of online mockery. For many observers, the episode fit a familiar pattern: an outspoken celebrity responding with outrage to a comment, only to make himself the story.
The Cultural Divide at the Center of the Debate
Dao’s statement was not an attack on Asian traditions as a whole—it was a description of his own upbringing. East Asian cultures such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean families typically use utensils, while eating rice by hand is more common in South and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and India.
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.
In short, Dao’s opinion reflected his background, not a dismissal of others. Liu’s interpretation—framed as a moral or political issue—amplified a minor cultural difference into an internet spectacle. It’s also the latest instance of Liu’s ongoing tendency to lump all Asian cultures into one. This was seen last year in full display during the Simu Liu Boba Tea controversy.
The Boba Tea Controversy: When Virtue Signaling Turns Toxic
This is hardly the first time Liu’s moral outrage has backfired. In October, he went viral for accusing a small Canadian bubble tea business of “cultural appropriation” during an episode of the reality show Dragons’ Den.
Liu criticized the company, called Bobba, for allegedly not giving sufficient credit to the Taiwanese origins of bubble tea. The backlash was swift and severe. Online mobs targeted the company’s owners with harassment and threats, forcing Liu to later ask fans to stop attacking them.
(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.
Liu said that if he were to invest, “I would be uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage.”
Liu is Chinese Canadian and Boba Tea is Taiwanese. Those two cultures are not the same thing outside of Simu Liu’s mind. Just like Filipino culture and Vietnamese culture are not the same, despite what Simu Liu alluded to when lashing out at Vince Dao.
The controversy ultimately cost Bobba a major investment—after initially agreeing to invest $1 million for 18% of the company, investor Manjit Minhas withdrew the offer amid public outcry. The brand later issued an apology and pledged to revise its marketing to reflect cultural authenticity, but it suffered significant reputational harm.
To this day, Bobba appears to remain in business, though the ordeal illustrates how quickly celebrity activism can spiral beyond anyone’s control.
Marvel’s Awkward Silence on Shang-Chi
The renewed attention on Simu Liu after his Vince Dao freakout also highlights Marvel’s silence surrounding a potential Shang-Chi sequel. Despite earning over $400 million globally in 2021, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has not received an official follow-up announcement.
Okay, but how is that Shang-Chi sequel coming?
— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) October 25, 2025
One major obstacle may be its reception—or rather, lack thereof—in China.
The film was never released theatrically there, reportedly due to comments Liu made in a resurfaced 2017 interview. Speaking about his family’s experience in China, Liu described the country as a “third-world” nation where “people were starving.”
While the Chinese government never issued an official ban statement, state-run outlets and censors were openly critical. Variety and Newsweek both reported that Liu’s remarks were seen as “insulting,” making a release highly unlikely.
(L-R): Director Destin Daniel Cretton and Simu Liu on the set of Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Given that China was once one of Marvel’s largest international markets, the absence of Shang-Chi in Chinese theaters was a financial blow—and it may have dampened enthusiasm for a sequel.
From Cultural Crusader to Online Punchline
For a growing number of fans, Liu’s constant moral posturing is starting to wear thin. Whether it’s accusing small business owners of cultural theft or lashing out at Asian American conservatives online, Liu has positioned himself as Hollywood’s self-appointed cultural gatekeeper—often with disastrous PR results.
(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.
Meanwhile, Vince Dao’s lighthearted response has earned him newfound visibility and a wave of support from those tired of celebrity outrage cycles.
In the end, Liu’s latest meltdown over rice may be remembered less for what he said—and more for what it symbolizes: another case of Hollywood preaching humility while practicing hostility.
How do you feel about Simu Liu attacking Vince Dao? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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It must suck to be a canadian chinese. This clown is so immaterial, he’s lashing out.
Poor guy; wants to be oppressed and/or represent an oppressed population but “millionaire Chinese Canadian actor” doesn’t elicit much sympathy.
I wish I had seen it. I’ve had a “who dis?” loaded up and ready to go for years!