The entertainment industry in Malaysia and Taiwan has effectively erased rapper and singer Namewee from all activities following the shocking death of model Iris Hsieh and the artist’s subsequent arrest earlier this month.
In early November, the incident became one of the most widely discussed topics across both entertainment industries. Namewee, the last known person to have seen Iris Hsieh alive before she was found dead in a hotel bathtub, became the primary suspect.
Along with being questioned for possible involvement in the death, he was charged with violating the Drug Control Act after police found nine blue pills suspected to be illegal substances on him. Blood tests showed he was positive for four drugs: amphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine, and tetrahydrocannabinol.
On November 13, the Malaysian police announced that there was currently no evidence linking Namewee to murder, leading to his temporary removal from the suspect list. He was later released on bail for the drug-related charges.
However, despite the police statement, the entertainment industry has already taken decisive action.
Television stations have pulled all programs featuring Namewee, and organizers of more than a dozen events — including major New Year’s Eve countdown concerts — have canceled his appearances. Because many of his contracts follow a “payment after performance” clause, no partner has demanded compensation from him yet.
On social media, Namewee expressed that he is now facing the worst crisis of his life, having lost all sources of income.
He wrote, “All my work from now until the end of the year has been canceled. I’ve been erased from showbiz. If anyone has a job for me, I can negotiate the pay. Manual labor is also fine — I know how to fry chicken, stir-fry rice, install window frames. Anything I don’t know, I can learn. I just need money.”
The late model Iris Hsieh, 31, died suddenly in a Malaysian hotel bathtub on October 22. Shockwaves followed on November 2, when police arrested Namewee as part of the investigation.
During questioning, Namewee denied using drugs and denied having a romantic relationship with Iris Hsieh on the day of her death. He claimed they had met to discuss filming a music video, after which she went to take a bath but did not return for over 30 minutes. Feeling something was wrong, he checked and found her unconscious in the bathtub. He said he performed CPR and called emergency services, but the ambulance reportedly arrived about an hour later — by then, she had passed away.
Namewee also explained why he left the scene before medical responders arrived, saying he panicked and feared being mistaken as the killer. He denied bringing any drugs to the hotel room and claimed he did not know where they came from. However, police deemed parts of his testimony inconsistent and evasive. Hotel CCTV confirmed that Namewee and Iris Hsieh spent the night together, and no one else entered the room during that time.
Namewee (real name Wee Meng Chee, born 1983), is known as a musician, filmmaker, director, and actor. He has long carried a controversial reputation due to his satirical works and past conflicts, including releasing a song that angered BLACKPINK fans.
Sources: Sina,China Times
You must be logged in to post a comment.