In showbiz, there’s no shortage of cases where celebrities suffer because of obsessed fans. But perhaps no one had it worse than “Heavenly King” Andy Lau, who once encountered the infamous and shocking “legend” of Yang Lijuan. Her unhealthy obsession with the C-entertainment superstar not only tore her family apart and cost her the life of a loving father, but also nearly pressed the “self-destruct” button on Andy’s career.
According to 163, Yang Lijuan fell in love at first sight after seeing a poster of Andy Lau and from then on, constantly fantasized about being loved by him. Immersed in this delusion, she neglected her studies and isolated herself from those around her.
Yang collected everything related to Andy Lau and even wanted to meet him to share her dream, believing that once he heard it, he would recognize her. She even declared to her family, “If I can’t meet Andy Lau, I will never get married.”
Her father, Yang Qinji, was a teacher in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. Instead of reasoning with her, he indulged his only daughter’s fantasy, claiming he also had the same dream and promising, “I will help you with all my strength.” This father eventually took early retirement, scraped together money, and borrowed from everywhere so that she could pursue her obsession.
In 1997, funded by her parents, Yang spent 9,900 Chinese yuan (approx 1,300 USD) to fly to Hong Kong but failed to meet Andy Lau. In 2003, to satisfy her wish, her parents sold their home and rented a place for 400 yuan a month.
In 2004, when she heard Andy Lau was filming “A World Without Thieves” near her hometown, she stalked the set from morning till night for days, but still failed to meet him. In 2005, after learning his home address, she forced her father to take her to Hong Kong again.
At that time, her family was in financial trouble, and her mother was bedridden with a broken leg, yet her father still borrowed over 10,000 Chinese yuan and endured sleeping rough on the streets with his daughter in hopes of meeting the star, which were all in vain.
By March 2006, in a shocking move, Yang’s father sold one of his kidneys to raise money for another trip to Hong Kong, this time with the help of the media. The story of a “70-year-old father selling a kidney to help his daughter chase her idol” went viral across China, making Yang’s obsession a nationwide topic.
Finally, in March 2007, after 13 years, Yang Lijuan’s dream came true, as she was able to attend a fan meeting, chat, and take photos with Andy Lau for 10 minutes. But it wasn’t enough for her. She became convinced their relationship had surpassed that of fan and idol, believing herself to be “the one and only” in his heart.
Her father once again appealed to the media to arrange a private meeting, but Andy Lau declined. In a desperate and tragic act, her father wrote a 12-page suicide letter accusing the star and then jumped into the sea in Hong Kong on March 26, 2007.
“After I die, Andy Lau must meet my daughter; otherwise, I will not rest in peace. If he doesn’t meet her, heaven will not forgive him,” his final words read.
The incident shocked Asia and placed Andy Lau under immense public pressure. In a press conference, he said, “Since the irrational behavior of Yang Lijuan became public, many fans have copied her, even risking their lives to pressure me. Faced with such situations, I can only refuse such meeting requests.”
After the tragedy, Yang still stubbornly claimed that her father’s death was partly Andy Lau’s fault for not meeting her sooner. She also blamed the media for overexposure. Yang even tried to sue Andy Lau but failed, as the court dismissed the case.
Despite refusing further contact, Andy Lau cleared the family’s debts and canceled all fan meetings for the year. He also sought psychological help but still faced relentless public scrutiny that nearly ended his career. Thanks to perseverance and hard work, he eventually overcame that dark chapter.
Yang and her mother, meanwhile, became homeless and endured public condemnation. They eventually returned to mainland China with the help of an airline. Life was bleak until a kind supermarket owner offered Yang a job as a sales assistant earning about 2,000 yuan a month.
At work, customers often whispered about her past. Initially uneasy, she gradually learned to face it and admitted that her actions as a young woman were foolish and misguided. Years later, she advised fans to remain rational in their idol worship to avoid ruining their own lives. Now in her late 40s, she has given up her youthful fantasies about love and marriage, saying, “I may never get married in this lifetime.”
Sources: kenh14
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