
'I hope Wang Xiaofei earns a lot of money': Ken Chu scolded for selling products by Barbie Hsu's ex-husband, explains his actions, Entertainment News
The 46-year-old, who was a member of Taiwanese boy band F4 and reunited with them recently at Mayday's concert on July 12, held a Douyin livestream yesterday (July 16), where he spoke about F4's reunion and the late Barbie.
F4, which also consists of stars Jerry Yan, Vic Chou and Vanness Wu, rose to fame in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), which also starred Barbie as the female lead. She died on Feb 2 at the age of 48 from pneumonia caused by complications from the flu.
Speaking about F4's reunion during his livestream yesterday, Ken shared that he was reluctant at first because of his physical health.
He said: "If you had paid close attention, including to our reunion recently, you would have realised that I look older compared to the three of them. That's because of my physical condition. I age 1.5 times faster than a normal person."
Ken also shared that he felt his stamina had deteriorated rapidly and if he doesn't have a reunion with the other members within this year or the next, he wouldn't be able to keep up with them.
He also agreed to the reunion because of the love and passion he had received as a member of the pop group throughout the years as well as his love for Barbie.
When he spoke about the actress, Ken took a deep breath and said tearfully: "She was in the lives of the four of us, right? Everyone talks about the wheel of fate. I believe that among the four of us, we each had our own methods of loving her when we were younger."
Ken, who turned to sales livestream in recent years, added that he was scolded by netizens recently for selling instant hot and sour noodle soup from Ma Liu Ji, a food brand owned by Barbie's ex-husband Xiaofei and his mother Zhang Lan, on his livestream.
In response to those criticisms, he said: "Why can't I sell it? To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei earns a lot of money, if not, who would take care of his two children?"
Xiaofei and Barbie, who divorced in 2021, shared two children Hsi-yueh, 11, and Hsi-lin, nine. In the years leading up to Barbie's death, they had been embroiled in lawsuits over Xiaofei infringing on their children's privacy and defamation with accusations of drug abuse and adultery.
In 2023, Ken briefly addressed his stand in one of his sales livestreams: "I think it's quite awkward to say this... but my liking for this brand has no relation to any trending news. I just feel that this brand is honest in their products, taste well and I wanted to recommend it to everyone."
[[nid:720268]]
yeo.shuhui@asiaone.com
No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘Like me? Approach me directly, okay?': Inside a matchmaking event for China's wealthy
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Wealthy single Chinese mingle at a high-end matchmaking event for China's wealthy singles in Beijing on July 13. – A woman in a light blue dress twirled gracefully across the dance floor; a man in a white polo tee, hair slicked back, belted out a Cantonese ballad, 1874 by Eason Chan. This was no talent show but a matchmaking event at a five-star hotel in Beijing; one touted as exclusive to Chinese millionaires.


AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
'I'm happy taking the audience seat': Andrew Seow, now auxiliary police officer, reflects on past acting career, Entertainment News
One evening last year, former actor Andrew Seow's father asked him a question while they were watching television: "Is there something you've always wanted to do?" "That moment really made me pause and reflect. Contributing to national security had always been at the back of my mind, but life's circumstances never quite lined up, until then," the 55-year-old told AsiaOne in an interview recently. Andrew said his father was an auxiliary police officer (APO) in his 20s and had shared his experiences and pride in protecting others. Inspired, he decided to take the "leap of faith" and submitted his application for a position with security company Aetos. "To my surprise, I got a call within eight hours inviting me for an interview. Things moved quickly from there and before I knew it, I was putting on the uniform. It's been more than a year now. I'm proud to be part of something bigger, protecting our country and community, and I think my dad is too," he said. Andrew shared that his main responsibilities as an APO includes guarding and escorting persons-in-custody, conducting security searches and handling bail procedures. 'Those days in the limelight are behind me' As a former public figure, Andrew said he would be recognised by his colleagues, clients and members of the public occasionally. He shared: "I'm always thankful when people remember me and take the time to say something kind. But those days in the limelight are behind me. These days, I find more meaning in the work I do as an APO, carrying out my duties with professionalism and integrity." Andrew debuted in local showbiz in 1995 and acted in both English and Mandarin television series in Mediacorp. Some of his iconic roles include rebellious eldest son Gary Tay in local English drama Growing Up (1996 - 2001) and loyal friend Tang Tang in local Chinese drama Man At Forty (2004), for which Andrew won Best Supporting Actor in Star Awards 2004. He retired from the entertainment industry in 2007. Reflecting on his acting career, he told us: "After 12 fulfilling years in showbiz, I felt that it was time to step away. Life took a different turn, I had to care for my parents and I needed time to reflect and reset." He added that after stepping away from the limelight, he did some business ventures while caring for his parents. Because of his interest in art and culture, he also worked as a senior curator with Tsu Ho Gallery, which specialised in fine arts, jewellery and antiques, for a few years from 2010, before joining Aetos. When news broke in early July that Andrew has found a new career as an APO, netizens were glad to see him again, adding that he brought back nostalgic memories for them of their time watching Growing Up and praised him for his good performance. When asked why he decided to step back into publicity now, he said: "To be honest, I never planned to return to the spotlight. But I realised that if sharing my story can inspire even one person to take that first step towards something they've always wanted to do, then why not? I hope my journey is proof that it's never too late to chase your calling." As to whether he has considered returning to acting, Andrew shared: "I'm happy taking the audience seat these days. The current generation of actors and actresses are incredibly talented, and I enjoy watching them shine. For now, I find just as much satisfaction appreciating the craft from a different perspective, as a viewer and supporter." In a 2023 interview with actor Steven David Lim, who plays Gary's younger brother David in Growing Up, he told AsiaOne about some tension between him and an unnamed actor on the set of the series. Former actress-host Jamie Yeo, who played youngest sister Tammy, was involved as well. When asked about this, Andrew said: "That was quite a long time ago, and I honestly don't have any recollection of who or what the situation was referring to. Working on set back then, we were all young and still learning the ropes. If anything was misunderstood, I hope it's all water under the bridge by now." Although Andrew is no longer in the spotlight, he is still able to apply the skills he had learnt as an actor into his current career as an APO. "Coming from an acting background, I've learnt to adapt quickly, stay composed under pressure, and connect with people from all walks of life. Long filming hours also prepared me well for shift work. More importantly, learning to read situations, communicate clearly and stay calm even under pressure — these skills have been valuable and continued to help me in my role every day," he said. Finding joy in everyday moments During his days off, Andrew, who is single, values his personal time. "I enjoy the peace that comes with being in my own space. On my off days, I like to do a bit of gardening, care for my pets and spend time in nature. With the structure and responsibilities that come with being an APO, having the time to unwind and recharge has become something I really appreciate," he shared. He also enjoys spending time and cooking for his parents: "They're getting on in years and I truly cherish each day I have with them." Andrew's specialty is making curry chicken from scratch, and he said seeing how much his parents enjoyed it "makes all the effort worthwhile". "It's these little everyday moments that remind me how much joy can be found in the simple things," he added. 'Don't be afraid to follow your passion' Life took different turns for Andrew, where he got to experience careers as an actor, curator and APO, and it all boiled down to one thing — chasing his aspirations. Reflecting on his position as an APO, he shared: "This job has given me the chance to show others that it's never too late to pursue your passion. I've also come to realise that people see me not for who I was on screen, but for who I am today, someone who is playing my part to safeguard our country and communities. "On the ground, I've encountered people in distress, some at their lowest points. It's in those quiet moments, where you're able to step in and make a difference, that reminds me why the work I do matters." He hoped those who are thinking of a mid-career switch would consider following their heart. "It's never too late to go after your dreams. So long as it's something you believe in, give it your all. I made a bold move last year, and it's been one of the best and most fulfilling decisions I've ever made. Keep learning, stay curious and don't be afraid to follow your passion," Andrew said. [[nid:720796]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.

Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
HK actor Will Or, 33, reveals he has Stage 4 lung cancer
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Hong Kong actor Will Or decided to take a temporary break after the diagnosis. HONG KONG – Hong Kong actor Will Or has revealed that he is battling Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer. The 33-year-old broke the news on Instagram on July 30, sharing that his symptoms began in late May with a lingering cough that did not improv e after two rounds of antibiotics. He then consulted a respiratory specialist and underwent a CT scan, which revealed an abnormality. He wrote in Chinese: 'I was referred to another specialist. When the doctor saw my report, his expression changed, so I joked, 'The doctor looks so grim. Is it cancer?' 'I thought it would be tuberculosis, but I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma two to three days after further testing at the hospital.' Or is best known for his breakout role in Hong Kong movie Drifting (2021), which also starred Hong Kong actors Francis Ng, Loletta Lee and Tse Kwan Ho. Or played a youth suffering from aphasia in the drama-thriller, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2021 and Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2022. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore No entry: ICA to bar high-risk, undesirable travellers from boarding S'pore-bound ships, flights Singapore 17-member committee to drive roll-out of autonomous vehicles in Singapore Singapore Over half of job applications by retrenched Jetstar Asia staff led to offers or interviews: CEO Singapore Underground pipe leak likely reason for water supply issues during Toa Payoh fire: Town council Business Singapore gold investment soars 37% to 2.2 tonnes in Q2 while jewellery demand wanes Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Asia US-Malaysia tariff deal set for Aug 1 after Trump-Anwar phone call Singapore 'Switching careers just as I became a dad was risky, but I had to do it for my family' He admitted that the diagnosis dealt a heavy blow, and he felt as if he was 'walking into emptiness' upon hearing the news. 'I just wanted to sleep and escape. I wanted a break, but I love my work too much. Even when it's exhausting, I enjoy giving my all,' he said. Following his discharge, he went home to shower before heading straight to rehearsals for the stage show, Let Me Entertain You. Despite his resolve to keep working, he ultimately decided to take a temporary break from the theatre production after consulting his doctor. 'I hope I can still perform. That tiny hope, that tiny desire, those little thoughts and the little bits of support from everyone around me are what I'm holding on to,' he said. Opening up about the emotional impact of the lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis, Or shared on July 30 that he Googled for guidance on how to cope with his disease. He then recalled a moment that helped shift his perspective – when his tearful father hugged him and said he wished he could take his place. 'At that moment, I felt lucky to have such a loving father. I was even more relieved that it wasn't him or someone I love who got sick. That's when I began to accept my diagnosis.' Or went on to reassure his fans, urging them not to worry or tell him to 'stay strong'. ' Living in this crazy world is already hard enough. A smile, a nod or even a 'strong' emoji is enough... That's all I need to know you're with me,' he said. He concluded with a message of hope, writing: 'I'll be okay. Life goes on. I love you all and know I'm cherished by all of you.' THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK