Eleanor Lee denies making derogatory comments about Chinese people: 'This was definitely not what I said'
Lim Ruey Yan
The Straits Times
May 11, 2025
Home-grown actress Eleanor Lee has broken her silence on an online storm related to the release of an audio recording, denying that she had made derogatory comments about people in China.
"I'm sorry to have caused so much controversy and taken up public resources," the 25-year-old China-based star wrote on her social media platforms, including Weibo, Instagram and Facebook, on May 10.
"I was very shocked when I heard the recording. This was definitely not what I said."
The furore began when a netizen claiming to be Lee's former assistant released in April a poor-quality audio recording that lasted about 30 seconds on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
In the recording, which features a lot of background noise and some muffled words, a woman is heard saying she is "doing this not for fame, but for money" and that "most people in China are idiots".
It is not confirmed if it is Lee's voice in the clip. The incident gained traction after the media in China and Taiwan reported on it in the past few days.
Lee - whose parents are Taiwan-born Singapore TV host Quan Yifeng and her former husband, local actor Peter Yu - wrote in her post in Chinese: "I didn't come forward in the first instance because we are also sorting out the facts, hoping to give a satisfactory answer to people who care about me. I will use my own actions to prove my attitude, and welcome everyone to supervise me in the future."
The Taiwan-born actress added in her statement that she was born in China and has spent nearly half her life in the country after moving there from Singapore at the age of 16. China views Taiwan as its own territory.
She first gained prominence in China in 2015 after appearing in an Apple China commercial directed by award-winning Hong Kong film-maker Ann Hui.
Lee then began to pursue acting in China and started studying at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy in 2017. She has starred in Chinese TV series such as Solaso Bistro (2017), My Poseidon (2019) and My Love, Enlighten Me (2020).
She also featured in the Chinese movie The Enchanting Phantom (2020), a remake of the 1987 Hong Kong film A Chinese Ghost Story. She played beautiful ghost Nie Xiaoqian, who was portrayed by Taiwanese actress Joey Wong in the original classic.
"I have received many opportunities and (much) assistance here, and have been able to shine in my favourite career," Lee wrote. "I am completely in love with and grateful for this land, and I will never waver in any of my stances on any issue related to China."
Lee is starring in an upcoming Chinese period drama, The Journey Of Legend. However, there has been talk that she was removed from the cast list after her name did not appear on one of the pinned posts dated April 9 on the show's Weibo account.
Based on a novel by Malaysia-born author Woon Swee Oan, The Journey Of Legend also stars Chinese actor Cheng Yi and Chinese actress Gulnazar Bextiyar. Lee plays one of the main characters, Tang Fang.
It wrapped up filming in October 2024. The series has not announced its official premiere date, but some netizens speculated that its airing might be affected by Lee's alleged remarks.
Lee also uploaded a statement by her agency in her post on May 10. It noted that some users on social media have maliciously spread false information about the actress, which seriously damaged her reputation.
"Eleanor Lee has always respected and loved Chinese culture," the agency said. "For many years, she has been actively studying the Chinese language and taking part in Chinese film and TV productions, and is committed to promoting cultural exchanges."
It stressed that the recording and other related content circulating online are fabricated and untrue. It also urged internet users to stop circulating them, adding that it will take legal action against those who continue to do so.
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