Clips from Canada’s Dragons’ Den featuring guest Simu Liu calling out bubble tea business Bobba for cultural appropriation have gone viral. Dragon investor Manjit Minhas has withdrawn her $1 million investment offer, causing Bobba to scramble for damage control. Liu is urging for calm as they face criticism online.
In the recent episode of Dragon’s Den, entrepreneurs Sébastien Fiset and Jess Frenette sought a $1 million investment for their ready-to-drink bubble tea business Bobba. However, Simu Liu, as the show’s first Chinese-Canadian Dragon, expressed concerns about the cultural appropriation of the Asian drink.
Despite receiving investment offers from other Dragons, Liu chose not to invest in Bobba due to his cultural heritage and concerns about the product. The episode sparked outrage on Asian TikTok, with viewers criticizing Bobba and the Dragons for dismissing Liu’s concerns.
Liu later addressed the controversy, emphasizing the importance of education and understanding cultural perspectives. However, many viewers expressed disappointment in Dragons’ Den for not issuing a formal apology and for mishandling the situation.