A Canadian tea company has joined in after Marvel movie star Simu Liu accused the company of cultural appropriation after it launched a Taiwanese version of the drink.
Mr. Liu made the accusation on a Canadian reality show. dragon's dena show like America, where aspiring inventors and product salesmen compete to earn investment money. shark tank series.
According to the BBC, the Quebec boba tea company appeared on the show and said its goal is to “disrupt” and “transform” the tapioca market to make drinking tapioca a “convenient and healthy” experience. said.
But the actor, who was a guest star on the show, is a little upset himself, saying that a company run by a white Westerner, featuring an Asian product, is better for it.
“We are concerned about the idea of disrupting or interfering with bubble tea.” Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings said the star. “There's a problem with taking something so obviously Asian in your identity and making it 'better,' and I have a problem with that.”
The Canadian actor also asked the company if anyone within the company understood the cultural significance of a “very Asian drink.”
The company's owner, Sebastien Fiset, responded that the recipe was created by a partner in Taiwan.
Mr. Liu was also angry that he had loaned the company money to invest in its own products.
Trouble continues for the tea company, with executives now apologizing after an online backlash of “cultural appropriation” after the episode aired in Canada.
“Simu Liu has made some very valid points regarding cultural appropriation, and we welcome this learning opportunity,” the company said in an official statement.
The company further fell on its own sword, honoring the cultural heritage of its products and announcing its commitment to “ensure that they respectfully and accurately reflect our partnership with Taiwan and the culture of bubble tea.” “We will re-evaluate,” he said. roots. “
In a post on Instagram, the company said, “We would like to deeply apologize for the damage caused by our words and actions on the show.''
But Liu tried to backtrack a little on his own. He said that while he believed what he said on the TV show, he felt the company was acting in “honesty” and “did not deserve harassment.”
he posted video He appealed to people on TikTok to “be kind to each other.”
One of the show's other investors, Manjit Minha, broke with Liu in this episode and gave Boba Tea money to improve its product. However, after receiving backlash online, Minha relented and withdrew her support for the tea company.
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