Simu Liu recently shed more light on the controversy involving Canadian bubble tea company Bobba during his appearance on the show “Dragon’s Den.” In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, Liu detailed his experience on the show, revealing that producers actively pushed for a viral confrontation
- Set up for a viral moment: Representing his VC fund Markham Valley Ventures, Liu appeared as a guest investor on the show in October last year to invest in minority founders. Liu noted that he “immediately knew” he was being set up when Bobba’s founders, Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette, pitched their bottled bubble tea as a “healthier” alternative. “As the only East Asian member on the panel, I felt that responsibility lay squarely on my shoulders,” Liu wrote. He questioned whether Bobba acknowledged the drink’s Asian origins in its branding, packaging or leadership, but received “no on all fronts.” The situation escalated when one founder claimed that bubble tea was “not an ethnic product anymore,” while another suggested that their version was healthier.
- “Unfavorable edit”: Liu, who has a deep personal connection to bubble tea, said he “had to speak up.” However, he also revealed that Dragon’s Den producers were in his earpiece throughout the exchange, urging him “to get angrier.” He ultimately declined to invest in Bobba, citing concerns over cultural appropriation. While he stood by his decision, he expressed sympathy for the founders, who he believes “pitched in good faith” but fell victim to an “unfavorable edit done by producers who smelled a juicy moment.”
- Episode aftermath: The controversy sparked significant online backlash, leading Liu, Bobba’s founders and fellow investor Manjit Minhas to release statements condemning harassment and threats directed at the entrepreneurs. Bobba has since apologized for its wording and committed to revising its branding to better reflect bubble tea’s Asian heritage.
This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.
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