Dragon’s Den cultural appropriation controversy

Canadian entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den judge Manjit Minhas has withdrawn her $1 million investment from the bubble tea company "Bobba," following actor Simu Liu's criticism of the entrepreneurs for their lack of understanding and representation of Asian culture during their pitch on the show.

Dragons’ Den is a CBC television program where entrepreneurs present their business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors. In the latest episode, Quebec City entrepreneurs Sébastien Fiset and Jessica Frenette pitched their bottled bubble tea business, "Bobba," seeking an 18% investment. During the pitch, Liu raised concerns about the cultural implications of their product, questioning, “What respect is being paid to this very Asian drink?” His comments sparked a heated discussion about representation in the food industry.

Initially, Minhas agreed to invest but faced severe backlash from viewers who felt she dismissed Liu's valid concerns. After the episode aired, she received a flood of criticism on social media, leading her to issue a public apology. In her statement, she announced her decision to withdraw the investment, emphasizing that while she believes cultures should be shared, hate and threats against the entrepreneurs are unacceptable. Many social media users found her apology was weak, arguing it failed to address the core issues raised by Liu, highlighting the need for a genuine acknowledgment of cultural appropriation rather than a reactive response.

In response to the unfolding situation, Liu stressed the importance of respectful discourse. He clarified that while he disagreed with the business’s approach, harassment of individuals for their decisions is never acceptable. The founders of "Bobba" also released an apology, acknowledging the harm caused by their actions and committing to re-evaluating their branding to better understand the cultural significance of bubble tea.

This incident is part of a broader conversation about cultural representation in the food industry. A similar controversy recently erupted in the UK when the restaurant chain Pho Restaurant surrendered its trademark on the Vietnamese word "pho" after widespread condemnation online. After almost two decades of holding the trademark, Vietnamese businesses in the UK can now use "pho" in their names without legal repercussions. The UK’s Intellectual Property Office confirmed that Pho Restaurant filed a request to surrender its trademark, which was completed just two days later.

 

The uproar surrounding Pho Restaurant began after TikTok users discovered that the white-founded business held the trademark on the Vietnamese word. The chain had trademarked "PHO," "Pho," and "pho" in 2007 and had even threatened legal action against at least one Vietnamese business for using the term. After extensive social media backlash, including a viral video from Vietnamese TikTok creator Yen Bui, who runs the account iamyenlikethemoney, Pho Restaurant acknowledged the concerns raised and decided to surrender the trademark. "This was a community effort," Bui stated. "I truly believe in the power of community. Every single comment, every single video that was produced on this matter has helped us in reaching the goal of dropping the trademark of 'pho.'"

Both the Dragons’ Den controversy and the Pho Restaurant trademark situation highlight the essential conversations around cultural representation and appreciation.