Polls open in 2024 B.C. provincial election
The polls are open in the 43rd British Columbia provincial general election, marking the conclusion of a four-week campaign period that saw a record number of ballots cast in advance.
Controversy bubbled for a Canadian drink company after its founders drew the ire of a Marvel superhero on an episode of a “Shark Tank”-style reality series.
On a recent episode of CBC’s “Dragons’ Den,” actor Simu Liu appeared as a guest star and prospective investor. The owners of a Quebec-based bubble tea brand called Bobba were featured, seeking funding to grow their brand.
Bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea-based drink with tapioca balls that has risen in popularity in recent years.
The friction between Liu and Bobba owners Sebastien Fiset and Jess Frenette was visible early in their pitch. Setting up their product, Frenette described bubble tea as a “trendy, sugary drink” and suggested that consumers are “never quite sure about its contents.”
Liu interrupted the pitch to say, “hang on, hang on. I am quite sure about its content, but continue.”
Fiset pitched Bobba as a new spin on traditional bubble tea, saying he and Frenette had “transformed this beloved beverage into a convenient and healthier ready-to-drink experience.”
He added that they are “disturbing” the bubble tea market by using “three simple ingredients,” including high quality tea, fruit juice and their Popping Bobba, which are edible pearls filled with fruit juice, according to the company’s website.
Liu, who is Chinese-Canadian, took issue with how they qualified “disturbing” the market with their product, calling it “cultural appropriation.”
“There’s an issue of taking something that’s very distinctly Asian in its identity and ‘making it better,’ which I have an issue with,” Liu said.
When Liu later asked if there is any Asian representation within their staff, Frenette and Fiset said the company’s “best partner” is based in Taiwan and creates their recipes. According to the company’s website, the flavors are “crafted” in Canada, while their pearls are “from our exclusive producer in Taiwan.”
Liu ultimately opted not to invest in the product, saying, “I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses but not like this.”
“I started this venture company for a lot of reasons but really primarily to uplift minority entrepreneurs,” Liu said. “Not only do I feel like this is not happening here, but that I would be uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage.”
The exchange has since spurred some backlash, resulting Liu, the Bobba founders and “Dragons’ Den” investor Manjit Minhas, who initially invested in the product on the show, to release statements addressing the discourse and calling for an end to the threats and harassment Frenette and Fiset have since received online.
Liu on Saturday posted a video to his TikTok page to say he believes Fiset and Frenette came on “Dragons’ Den” to pitch their business “in good faith.”
“There were a lot of things with the pitch that I took issue with and I disagreed with and as a result, I pulled out as a potential investor but that doesn’t mean that I believe that they deserve harassment and threats. I think a lot of grace should be afforded to them,” he said.
“Dragons’ Den” echoed Liu in a statement on Saturday.
The company Bobba apologized “for the harm we have caused by our words and actions on the show,” acknowledging in statement on Sunday that Liu “raised very valid points regarding cultural appropriation and we welcome this learning opportunity.”
Fiset and Frenette’s “choice of words was misguided” when they discussed the cultural significance and origins of bubble tea on the show, the company stated.
“We will re-evaluate our branding, packaging, and marketing strategies to ensure that they reflect a respectful and accurate representation of our Taiwanese partnership and bubble tea’s cultural roots,” the statement read.
The Bobba owners ultimately made a deal with Minhas, who offered them $1 million for an 18% stake in their company after saying she thinks there can be “new takes” on products like this that don’t always have to be traditional.
Minhas on Sunday announced that “after more reflection, due diligence and listening to many of your opinions,” she’s no longer investing in Bobba.
“Dragons’ Den” has aired for 19 season and is based off a Japanese show with the same concept, which premiered in 2001.
The polls are open in the 43rd British Columbia provincial general election, marking the conclusion of a four-week campaign period that saw a record number of ballots cast in advance.
A number of parents at Oyster Pond Academy pulled their children from class Friday after learning about a gender identity presentation.
Julianna Tan says her world was turned upside down when she got a letter this summer summoning her to court.
A powerful atmospheric river caused street flooding in parts of Metro Vancouver Saturday, closing some roads and soaking voters headed to the polls in B.C.'s provincial election.
A Waterloo, Ont. man is sharing video of a recent encounter with a stranger to give others an idea of the hate he experiences in the community.
Jerry Seinfeld says he 'officially' takes back his claim that the 'extreme left' is suppressing the art of comedy.
Days after a man was recorded walking behind the counter at a frozen yogurt shop in Richmond, B.C., and scooping product with his hand, a suspect has been criminally charged.
Cuba's government on Saturday said that some electricity was restored on the island after one of the country's major power plants failed and left millions without electricity in an outage that started two days earlier.
Montreal skateboarders are rallying to protect a Do-It-Yourself skatepark known as Project 45 from what the city has said are plans to redevelop the space but skaters fear are plans to demolish what makes it unique.
The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that – and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.
A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.
A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the ‘Fellow in Yellow.’
John Cantin vividly remembers opening day for his Victoria diner. Stress levels were high, tables were full, and one of the most popular menu items couldn’t be freed from the unyielding grip of the waffle maker.
A Manitoba professor is warning the public after a book on regional mushrooms that he suspects is AI-generated was delisted from Amazon.
A B.C. judge has issued a decision in a years-long dispute between neighbours that began with a noise complaint over barking dogs, crowing roosters and quacking ducks – awarding $15,000 in damages to the plaintiffs in the case.
An Ottawa man was arrested after taking a shower in a stranger's house, Ottawa police say.
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Chef Paul Natrall, the man behind Indigenous food truck Mr. Bannock, is bringing cooking classes on First Nations fare to schools and offices throughout Metro Vancouver.
The Celtic Colours Festival is taking place at venues around Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia from Oct. 11 to 19.