By Flynn Demapendan
In an episode of Dragons’ Den, Marvel actor Simu Liu called out a Canadian drink company after the founders angered him when presenting their product. The controversy started on a recent episode of the show when Simu Liu appeared as a guest star and prospective investor.
The drink company was a Quebec-based bubble tea brand called “Bobba,” which claimed to seek funding and growth for their brand. Bubble tea is known for its Taiwanese tea-based drink, accompanied with tapioca balls, which has found popularity as of late.
Liu’s opinions on the owners of “Bobba,” Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, were visible at the start of the pitch. While showcasing their product, Frenette presented bubble tea as a “trendy, sugary drink,” and stated that consumers are “never quite sure about its content.”
Cutting them off to argue against Frenette, Liu said, “I am quite sure about its content, but continue.”
Fiset then pitched the company “Bobba” as a new take on the original bubble tea, stating that he and Frenette “transformed this beloved beverage into a convenient and healthier ready-to-drink experience.” He also stated that they are “disturbing” the bubble tea industry by using “three simple ingredients,” which are high-quality tea, fruit juice, and popping boba.
Liu, who is a Chinese-Canadian, took issue with how the owners qualified that they were “disturbing” the market, labeling it as cultural appropriation. “There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and ‘making it better,’ which I have an issue with,” Liu stated. “I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses, but not like this.”
With the talk and spur of cultural appropriation, some watchers and people in the media saw the company presenting cultural appreciation instead. With the debate between whether or not the company presented cultural appropriation and appreciation, what is the difference between one and the other?
Cultural appropriation is when one takes an aspect from a culture that is not one’s culture and ‘mimics’ or ‘pokes fun’ at it. Meanwhile, cultural appreciation is appreciating culture in an effort to broaden one’s perspective and knowledge.
The difference between the two is the consent and/or permission that is shared with a cultural exchange. To serve as an example, someone could wear cultural clothing to a celebratory and appropriate event, as opposed to wearing it at a festival that imitates the culture and only uses it for attention.
The exchange between the founders of “Bobba” and Simu Liu has created controversy and backlash, which made both parties release statements to bring an end to the threats and harassment Frenette and Fiset have received online.
The company itself, “Bobba,” apologized, acknowledging the statement of Liu, which “raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation, and we welcome this learning opportunity.”
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