The sudden passing of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu left fans heartbroken, but in the wake of her death, public attention has now turned toward growing controversy within her family, especially involving her mother, Huang Chunmei. Once viewed sympathetically as a grieving parent, she’s now facing intense criticism over a statement many have deemed shockingly “cold-hearted.”
In a recent comment that stunned netizens, Huang stated, “Barbie made money to support me. It’s just not written down on paper.” The implication that she is entitled to her daughter’s fortune, possibly in full, has sparked massive backlash on social media, with many accusing her of greed and treating her daughter like a personal ATM.
While some argue it’s natural for children to support their parents, many feel the timing and tone of Huang’s statement were deeply inappropriate. Public sentiment quickly shifted, with fans voicing concern that Barbie’s legacy is being overshadowed by family disputes.
Reports reveal that Barbie Hsu’s estate, valued at approximately 30 million USD, was divided between her husband DJ Koo and their two children. Since the children are minors, their share, reportedly around 14.7 million USD, is to be managed by Barbie’s ex-husband Wang Xiaofei. Notably, Huang Chunmei did not inherit anything directly from her daughter.
Sources also claimed that Barbie transferred a 6 million USD villa to her mother prior to remarrying DJ Koo, possibly to appease her disapproval. However, because the prenuptial agreement between Barbie and DJ Koo was not legally notarized, it’s now uncertain whether Huang will retain ownership of the property after the estate is fully settled.
This may be why, as some netizens speculate, Huang has been especially vocal, even criticizing her former son-in-law Wang Xiaofei multiple times, despite him remaining largely silent. Past conflicts are now resurfacing, with Barbie’s sister Dee Hsu once revealing on a talk show that, “Our money is also our mother’s money.” While Dee gifted large red envelopes during holidays, Barbie reportedly handed over full financial control to their mother.
Barbie’s former mother-in-law Zhang Lan once accused Huang of keeping the proceeds from selling the newlywed home she had gifted Barbie and Wang, which sold for over 200 million TWD (approx. 6.1 million USD). More recently, Dee Hsu shared that after Barbie remarried, she wanted to buy a new house, but her mother refused to release the funds, further hinting at financial tension between mother and daughter.
In hindsight, fans noticed Barbie’s last public appearance featured her wearing a dress she had purchased two years earlier, an odd detail that had sparked speculation of financial difficulties. Some now believe the actress’s funds may have been under her mother’s control all along.
With conspiracy theories and rumors spreading rapidly, public perception of Huang Chunmei has taken a sharp nosedive. As mourning continues, many are calling for her to exercise restraint, avoid provocative comments, and respect the memory of her late daughter during this sensitive time.