Simu Liu Meltdown at Vince Dao Over Rice Turns Into a Career Reality Check for Marvel Star

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Simu Liu, known for his role in the Marvel film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is once again the subject of online discussion, but not for a positive reason. This time, the attention comes from a debate about race between Liu and conservative commentator Vince Dao.

A recent controversy involving Simu Liu began when he reacted to a popular video of a man eating rice with his hands. Liu, who has both Vietnamese and Italian heritage, described the practice as “gross” and “barbaric,” explaining that it wasn’t something his family did.

Okay, so this guy made a comment that, honestly, came across a little harsh, but you could tell it was coming from his own background and way of seeing things. But Simu Liu wasn’t having it at all—and his reaction ended up being way more talked about than the original comment itself. It really took off!

Simu Liu’s Profanity-Laced Reaction

Liu responded with a long and strongly worded statement, accusing Dao of criticizing his own culture in an attempt to appeal to white conservatives.

You aren’t an authority on anything, and it seems like you’re criticizing your own culture to try and appeal to white conservatives. It’s common for people to get messy while eating foods like pizza, ribs, or tacos, so stop pretending otherwise.

— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) October 24, 2025

Dao, in turn, simply replied: “Is this guy famous or something because I have no idea who he is?”

Is this guy famous or something because I don’t know who he is

— Vince Dao (@VinceDaoTV) October 24, 2025

Screenshots of the conversation quickly spread on X, leading to renewed online criticism of Liu. Many people felt this followed a common trend: a celebrity reacting angrily to a comment and unintentionally drawing more attention to themselves.

The Cultural Divide at the Center of the Debate

Dao wasn’t criticizing Asian traditions; he was simply describing how he was raised. In East Asian cultures like Vietnam, China, Japan, and Korea, people usually eat with utensils. However, eating rice with your hands is more common in South and Southeast Asia, including countries like the Philippines and India.

Dao’s viewpoint stemmed from his personal experiences, not a rejection of other perspectives. However, Liu presented it as a matter of right and wrong, turning a small cultural misunderstanding into a major online event. This also highlights Liu’s habit of generalizing about all Asian cultures, as he did last year with the Simu Liu Boba Tea incident.

The Boba Tea Controversy: When Virtue Signaling Turns Toxic

Liu has faced criticism for his reactions before. Back in October, he sparked controversy when he publicly accused a small Canadian bubble tea shop of cultural appropriation on the reality TV show Dragons’ Den, and the incident quickly spread online.

Liu publicly criticized Bobba, a company, for not acknowledging bubble tea’s roots in Taiwan. This sparked a strong negative reaction online, with people harassing and threatening the company’s owners. Liu later asked their followers to stop the attacks.

Liu explained that if he were to invest in a company, he’d want it to be one that celebrates and respects his cultural background, rather than one that simply profits from it.

Simu Liu is Chinese Canadian, and boba tea originates from Taiwan. These are distinct cultures, and it’s inaccurate to conflate them, as Simu Liu did in his public disagreement with Vince Dao. Similarly, Filipino and Vietnamese cultures are separate and unique, despite any suggestions to the contrary.

The backlash against Bobba led to the loss of a crucial investment. Manjit Minhas, who had initially offered $1 million for an 18% stake in the company, pulled out of the deal due to public criticism. While the brand apologized and promised to improve its marketing to be more culturally sensitive, it still experienced considerable damage to its reputation.

I’m still seeing Bobba around, which is surprising, but the whole situation really showed me how fast things can get out of hand when celebrities jump into activism. It’s a cautionary tale, honestly – things can spin wildly before anyone can really react.

Marvel’s Awkward Silence on Shang-Chi

Recent discussions about Simu Liu, sparked by his public outburst, also bring attention to the fact that Marvel hasn’t said anything about a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Even though the film earned over $400 million worldwide in 2021, there’s still no official announcement about a follow-up movie.

Okay, but how is that Shang-Chi sequel coming?

— Nerdrotic (@Nerdrotics) October 25, 2025

One major obstacle may be its reception—or rather, lack thereof—in China.

The movie wasn’t shown in theaters there, allegedly because of statements actor Liu made in an old interview from 2017. In that interview, he talked about his family’s time in China and described it as a country where people struggled with poverty and hunger.

Although the Chinese government didn’t formally prohibit it, state media and censors strongly disapproved. Both Variety and Newsweek reported that Liu’s comments were considered offensive, making a release of the work very improbable.

Since China used to be a huge market for Marvel movies, the fact that Shang-Chi wasn’t shown in Chinese cinemas hurt the film financially and could make it harder to get a sequel made.

From Cultural Crusader to Online Punchline

Many fans are growing tired of Liu’s frequent attempts to take the moral high ground. From criticizing small business owners for alleged cultural appropriation to publicly attacking Asian American conservatives, he’s become known as Hollywood’s self-proclaimed expert on cultural issues – a role that often leads to negative publicity.

Vince Dao’s cheerful reaction has gained him a lot of attention and support from people who are fed up with constant celebrity drama and controversy.

Ultimately, Liu’s recent outburst about rice might be less about the actual issue and more about a pattern: Hollywood figures advocating modesty while often acting aggressively.

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2025-10-25 18:58