Mississauga’s Simu Liu calls out death threats against company featured on Dragon’s Den
Published October 16, 2024 at 12:56 pm
Actor Simu Liu posted a video online asking people to stop making death threats against a company he criticized on a Dragon’s Den episode.
Liu, who grew up in Mississauga and is known for his Marvel role as Shang-Chi, is a guest judge on Dragon’s Den this season. Dragon’s Den is reality series where people pitch business ideas to possible financial backers. Liu aims to support Asian and BIPOC businesses through the financial fund, Markham Valley Ventures.
In the Oct. 10 episode, a Quebec-based company pitched a “healthier” version of bubble tea called Bobba. Bubble tea, a tea-based drink made with tapioca pearls, originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s.
As Liu said he was concerned about “disrupting or disturbing” bubble tea, another judge, Manjit Minhas said there could be new takes on products.
“There’s also the issue of cultural appropriation,” Liu said. “There is an issue of taking something that is very distinctly Asian in its identity and quote, unquote making it better.”
The comments spurred a positive discussion on social media around culture appropriation versus paying homage, which Liu praised but it also led to death threats against the Bobba company.
“I have been made aware that the business owners have received a lot of death threats and harassment and otherwise just kind of bullying and dog-piling,” Liu said in a TikTok video. “I just want to say that full stop, it’s never OK to make threats, it’s never OK to bully and harass online.”
He added that people can offer constructive criticism but “there is a line that you don’t and shouldn’t cross.”
When people’s personal safety are being threatened it has gone too far.
The Bobba company also posted a lengthy statement on Instagram.
“It is clear to us that we should have called upon the expertise of our Taiwanese partners to shape the ways in which we give credit to the cultural roots of bubble tea and ensure cultural integrity by properly acknowledging its origins in Taiwanese culture,” the statement reads in part.
Liu is slated to appear on the next episode of Dragon’s Den airing Thursday on CBC.
INsauga's Editorial Standards and Policies@simuliusome thoughts on boba/bobba 🧋lets be kind to each other!