Boba tea company apologises over Canada Dragons' Den row

A Canadian bubble tea company named Bobba has issued an apology after actor Simu Liu raised concerns about their business practices during an episode of the reality TV show Dragons' Den. Simu Liu, who is well-known for his role in Marvel films, expressed his worries about the company's approach to bubble tea, a drink that has its roots in Taiwanese culture. On the show, the owners of Bobba pitched their product to potential investors, including Liu, claiming that they were 'disturbing' the bubble tea market by using only three simple ingredients to create a 'convenient and healthier' version of the drink. Liu challenged the entrepreneurs, stating that they were appropriating a drink that is distinctly Asian in its identity. He said, 'I’m concerned about this idea of disrupting or disturbing bubble tea. ' Liu also questioned whether the owners had staff who understood the cultural significance of bubble tea, which is made with tapioca balls. In response, Sebastien Fiset, one of the owners, mentioned that their best partner was in Taiwan, where all the recipes for their bubble tea are created. Following the episode, social media erupted with users criticizing the Bobba owners for their actions. In light of the backlash, the owners took to social media to apologize, stating that they were sorry for the harm caused by their words and actions on the show. They acknowledged that Simu Liu raised important points about cultural appropriation and expressed their willingness to learn from the situation. They also mentioned that they would be reviewing their branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to ensure they accurately represent their Taiwanese partnership and the cultural roots of bubble tea. Simu Liu also addressed the situation on social media, trying to ease the tension. He clarified that he did not want the owners to face harassment and explained that he chose not to invest in their company because of the concerns he raised. Initially, another judge on the show, Manjit Minhas, agreed to invest in Bobba, stating that 'there can be new takes on things. Not everything has to be traditional. ' However, after the social media uproar, she reconsidered her decision and announced that she would not be investing in Bobba Tea. In a video on her Instagram, she shared that she had to disable comments on her social media due to the abusive messages she received since the show aired. She emphasized that it is never acceptable to send hate or threatening messages to entrepreneurs.