What Is the Boba Tea Protein Controversy? Influencer Lauren Pon Accuses Founder Neil Hong of Bullying

UPDATE JULY 29: Neil Hong's team reached out to the author with a statement, which has now been added to the article.

Lauren Pon, founder of the snack brand Pon Pon, has gone public with serious claims, calling out Neil Hong, the founder of Boba Tea Protein, for bullying her during negotiations concerning the Pon Pon brand.

Lauren, a fitness athlete and the first sponsored athlete for Boba Tea Protein, made the revelations shortly after announcing she would not be renewing her contract as a brand ambassador for the company.

She explained that an earlier agreement had been signed in which Neil expressed interest in investing in Pon Pon—while allegedly asserting control over multiple brand decisions.

How It All Started

In a TikTok video, currently the third in a series covering what she refers to as the Boba Tea Protein fiasco, Lauren revealed that despite initially showing interest as a strategic consultant for Pon Pon, Neil is now allegedly creating a similar brand of his own following their fallout.

'There are no words to describe what it feels like to see all of your hard work—something that you dreamed of—be mimicked by someone that you trusted,' she said.

Lauren's story dates back to 2022, when a personal trip to Japan inspired her to create a nostalgic, health-focused snack brand. By early 2023, after publicly sharing her at-home product development process, Neil reached out to her boyfriend, expressing a desire to become a strategic partner in Pon Pon.

'I didn't even think twice about this because I had looked up to Neil so much, and I respected everything that he had built. I couldn't think of anyone better to help me than someone who understood Asian flavours and understood the fitness market,' she said.

The pair agreed that Neil would act as a consultant for the brand in exchange for a 10% capital contribution and a 10% equity stake.

Red Flags in the Partnership

Early on, Lauren said she noticed a shift in the company's power dynamics, alleging that Neil attempted to amend the operating agreement multiple times—changes that took a year of pushing from Neil.

This prompted concern from Lauren's lawyer, who told her: 'Are you fine with what they're proposing? I ask because you're the majority owner and sole manager, so you should have ultimate say over this language. Neil has been pushing this for a while, and I want to make sure it won't be adverse to you or the company.'

Conflicts, Control and Collapsing Trust

After Lauren pushed back on the proposed amendments, she claimed Neil restricted her ability to collaborate with other Asian brands, regardless of whether they competed directly with Boba Tea Protein.

'He shifted the conversation to saying that all of these collaborations would not benefit Pon Pon at all, but they would come to a lot of harm to his brand—and I would benefit the most from just collaborating with him,' she said.

Lauren added that when she asked for clarity, Neil threatened to withdraw from the agreement, compete directly with Pon Pon, and pull marketing connections from her boyfriend Travis's company.

'I figured he knew more than me, what the heck do I even know?' she said in the video.

'He Wanted the Opposite of What I Built'

Looking back, Lauren said her vision for Pon Pon was simple: sell 'adorable snacks' and enjoy the creative journey. But Neil's approach seemed to clash with that entirely.

'Everything that he was asking of me was the complete opposite of it, and if this was what he wanted from the very beginning, it was never discussed, and I never would have said "yes" to him in the first place,' she said.

Hoping to salvage the situation, Lauren proposed a compromise she believed was fair to both sides. But instead of progress, she said tensions escalated.

'He started to accuse me of ulterior motives, and that some third party was advising me against him,' she added.

She said Neil often dominated conversations, so she preferred using Discord to communicate—where she said most of the documented exchanges took place.

'He then said that the proposal was completely unreasonable, claiming that he would need 50% of the company due to the damage it would do to Boba Tea Protein,' Lauren revealed.

Despite the back-and-forth, Lauren claims Neil contributed 'zero dollars' and only logged 23 hours of consulting work over the past year and a half.

Fans Rally as New Claims Emerge

Lauren's followers and fellow creators have since rallied behind her, with some calling for a boycott of Boba Tea Protein and suggesting alternative brands.

In a follow-up video, she alleged that Neil contacted her manufacturer to obtain confidential recipe details—raising fears that he is planning a direct competitor to Pon Pon.

She also claimed Neil reached out to another brand for investment, one that he had previously barred her from working with. When she explained to Neil why she no longer wanted to collaborate, he reportedly interrupted, calling her 'disrespectful' and saying she 'wasn't thinking straight'.

He later insisted that Travis, Lauren's boyfriend, be present for their next call. During that call, Neil allegedly told Travis that Lauren was 'inexperienced', had 'a chip on her shoulder', and was trying to prove something.

'He kept reiterating that this is just how business is, and I wouldn't only know that until I got as big as his brand was,' Lauren said.

A Bitter Breakup

After Lauren confronted Neil about contacting her manufacturer, her lawyers drafted a mutual release to formally terminate the agreement.

Although Neil had made no financial contribution, Lauren claimed he demanded $66,000 (£49,464.03) for 20 hours of advisory services. While initially refusing to pay, her team ultimately sent $10,000 (£7,494.55) to settle the matter and sever all ties.

Adding to the controversy, Lauren discovered that Neil had registered a new snack company, Sugoi Snacks LLC, which is now active in Texas and could launch before Pon Pon does.

Neil Hong Responds

In response, Neil Hong's team shared an exclusive statement with IBT UK, saying he wished to approach the situation respectfully but firmly denied the allegations.

'These allegations have been incredibly personal, and I've taken the time to reflect on everything that's been said before speaking publicly. While there's much more context that I'm unable to share due to legal considerations and out of obligation to our team and our partners, I stand by my values, actions, and the integrity with which I've approached all of my endeavours,' he said.

He continued: 'We at Boba Tea Protein have always led with a commitment to transparency, fairness, and community. I, as Founder, deeply care about the work that we do and the people that we collaborate with. I am proud of the brand we've built, the impact it's had, and the team that continues to support it. I'm continuing to grow as a founder, a leader, and a person, and I am grateful to those who've supported us along the way.'