Often hailed as the “last muse of Hong Kong,” actress Cecilia Cheung has spent years battling a reputation for being unprofessional and controversial.
Critics have accused her of lying, neglecting co-stars, and prioritizing personal matters over work. Even veteran filmmaker Wong Jing once remarked:
“When I saw Cecilia Cheung, I knew there was a problem. She reminded me of Anita Mui — naturally talented but arrogant, always insisting on her own way. Sooner or later, she would face disaster.”
But recently, many fans and industry insiders have pushed back, saying that comparing Cecilia to the late diva Anita Mui is deeply unfair — because Anita’s run-ins with the underworld were far more dangerous.
Anita Mui’s Infamous Triad Clashes
According to producer Charles Heung’s wife, Tiffany Chen, Anita Mui’s fiery personality often got her into trouble. Despite her immense success as both a singer and actress, she was notoriously reckless and confrontational, even with Hong Kong’s feared triad leaders.
The Japanese restaurant incident: After a night of drinking, Anita Mui and her friends mistakenly entered a private room reserved for a crime boss. When politely asked to leave, Anita Mui refused and grew confrontational. To smooth things over, gang members asked her to share a drink. She agreed — but then threw the glass onto their table. Outraged, the boss put a HK$1 million (US$128,000) bounty on her. Anita Mui had to hide in Thailand until Tiffany Chen personally brokered peace.
The karaoke club standoff (1992): Anita Mui clashed with notorious figure after rejecting his drunken invitation to perform. Tensions escalated when one of his men slapped her, and firearms were reportedly brandished. Once again, Tiffany Chen had to intervene to protect Anita Mui from lasting harm.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, when triad influence over Hong Kong showbiz was at its peak, most celebrities learned to stay cautious. Anita Mui, however, seemed to court conflict, which left her friends scrambling to protect her.
Why Cecilia Cheung’s Case Is Different
By contrast, Cecilia Cheung — though often criticized for her attitude and chaotic personal life — has never been entangled in violent showdowns with the triads. Some netizens note that her controversies pale in comparison to Anita Mui’s reckless defiance of underworld figures.
As one fan wrote online: “Cecilia may have her flaws, but she never courted death like Anita Mui did. Calling her the ‘second Anita Mui’ is too harsh.”
Indeed, it was only thanks to Tiffany Chen’s repeated interventions that Anita Mui survived her most dangerous missteps. Without that protection, the legendary diva’s career — and perhaps her life — could have ended far earlier.
While both women share reputations for being headstrong and difficult, the scale of their scandals is vastly different. Cecilia Cheung’s issues lie mostly in professionalism and image management, while Anita Mui’s clashes with the Hong Kong underworld nearly cost her life on more than one occasion.
For many, that’s why branding Cecilia as “another Anita Mui” isn’t just unfair — it’s misleading.
Sources: QQ,163
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