A bubble tea company is under fire for their business pitch to investors on the show “Dragon’s Den”. On its release, it sparked debate on social media regarding cultural appropriation in the business world. Actor Simu Liu called out the company for stealing credit and not representing the product’s origins.
Dragon’s Den
“Dragon’s Den” is a Canadian reality series based on the popular American show, “Shark Tank”. Both shows invite up-and-coming companies to pitch their business ideas in front of a group of investors. Many companies have benefited significantly from these shows; earning support and success from their pitches.
In the most recent episode, a Canadian boba tea company sparked uproar on social media after proposing to investors, including “guest dragon” actor Simu Liu.
Bobba Company
The brand proposed was “Bobba”, a bottled boba tea company based in Quebec. Boba or bubble tea is a drink comprised of cold tea and chewy tapioca pearls, originating in Taiwan during the 1980s.
The founders, Sebastien Fiset and Jeanette Freanette sought a one million dollar investment from the dragons, stating that their company was “transforming the drink into a ‘healthier, ready-to-drink experience.'”
After their pitch, Liu decided against investing, stating he would be “uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage” if he were to invest.
Social Media Backlash
After the episode aired, Liu’s polite criticisms sparked uproar on social media against Bobba. People began to speculate cultural appropriation with the company, disregarding the origins of the drink entirely.
Fuel was added to the fire when another judge on the show, Manjit Minhas, invested. Social media spectators commented on how Minhas seemed to completely disregard Liu’s comments, forcing her to upload a video stating how she would pull out of the investment.
Regardless of how it appears, Liu stated that he meant no ill will towards the company, stating on Instagram: “I stand by my thoughts, but I do not believe they deserve any negative ill will. It is a learning moment and a lesson that they have surely already understood.” Bobba followed his post with an apologetic statement on their social media page.
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