
French comedian Bun Hay Mean dies at 43 after falling from balcony
The accident occurred as he attempted to retrieve his phone from a gutter, stated his producer Philippe Delmas. 'It is with infinite sadness that we must announce the tragic passing of our friend, our great artist, Bun Hay Mean,' Delmas shared in a public statement.
The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the cause of death.
Born in Lormont, Gironde, to a Chinese mother and a Cambodian father, Bun Hay Mean gained recognition after being discovered in the 'Jamel Comedy Club.'
His debut stand-up show, Chinois marrant dans la légende de Bun Hay Mean, ran successfully between 2014 and 2015 and cemented his reputation in French comedy.
He later expanded his presence in film, earning supporting roles in Éric Judor's Problemos and Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom directed by Guillaume Canet.
He was actively preparing for a new comedy tour across France titled Kill Bun and was scheduled to perform the act in Montreal on Friday night.
Fans and colleagues have expressed grief and shock across social media, paying tribute to his talent and humour.
Hashtags

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


Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Gisele Pelicot gets French honour
Gisele Pelicot, who became a feminist icon by publicly testifying over the mass rapes she endured, and rapper-turned-fashion designer Pharrell Williams were among 589 people awarded France's top civic honour on July 13, reported AFP. The announcement was made in France's official journal ahead of the country's national Bastille Day celebrations. Both Pelicot and Williams were both named knights of the Legion of Honour on a list announced ahead of France's July 14 national day. Pelicot, 72, earned international tributes for her courage in testifying at a French trial in 2024 against her former husband, who drugged her and arranged for her to be raped by dozens of men over a decade. Her testimony raised awareness around rape and gender-based violence, and ultimately changed rape laws in France. She has been named on lists of the world's most influential people by international media. However, Pelicot has remained silent since the trial. Her lawyer says she is concentrating on writing a book giving her side of the mass rape story, which is to be released in 2026. Meanwhile, American musician Williams, 52, made his name as a rapper and singer but earned a second fortune as a music producer and after designing clothes and accessories for several brands. He has been the Louis Vuitton men's creative director since 2023. Since joining Vuitton, Williams has relocated to Paris with his wife and four children. Williams' recent Paris show attracted a host of international celebrities, including singers Jay Z and Beyonce, film directors Steve McQueen and Spike Lee, and football and basketball stars. Actor Lea Drucker, veteran singer Sylvie Vartan, writer Marc Levy and Auschwitz deportee Yvette Levy, 99, were also among the figures awarded the Legion of Honour along with a host of former ministers, academics and top legal names.


Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Original Birkin sells for $10 million
The original bag custom-made for actress Jane Birkin - which went on to inspire one of the most iconic accessories in modern fashion history - sold for a record 8.6 million ($10.04 million) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday. According to fashion lore, the first Birkin bag was created after the Franco-British actor and singer sat beside Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in 1984 and mentioned she needed a bag that was both elegant and functional for her life as a young mother. Dumas reportedly sketched the concept mid-flight, designing a rectangular handbag with space specifically for baby bottles. Hermès produced that prototype for Birkin, later releasing smaller versions to the public. The now-legendary design quickly gained popularity and became a cornerstone of the brand's identity and commercial success. Standard Birkin bags today retail for over $10,000, but this original — which features Birkin's "JB" initials on the flap and a non-detachable shoulder strap, unlike later versions — was sold by phone to a private buyer in Japan, according to Sotheby's. The final bid set a new record for the most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction. "It was a travel bag. Clearly, it was worn for nine years by Jane Birkin on a daily basis, and the form is still very beautiful," said Aurélie Vassy, head of the Handbags and Fashion Department at Sotheby's Europe and Middle East, in an interview with Reuters. Birkin originally auctioned the bag in 1994 to raise funds for Sidaction, a French charity supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS. It changed hands again in 2000, when a private French collector purchased it. When Jane Birkin passed away in 2023, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called her the "most Parisian of the English," a tribute to her deep connection with the French capital. Born in the United Kingdom, Birkin moved to France in the late 1960s and became known not just for her work in film and music - particularly the provocative hit Je t'aime moi non plus - but also for her activism and humanitarian contributions. Reuters


Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Original Birkin bag sells at auction for record $10mn
PARIS: The original bag custom-made for actress Jane Birkin, which became one of the era-defining designs of the 20th century, was sold in Paris on Thursday for a record 8.6 million euros ($10.04 million), auctioneer Sotheby's said. According to fashion lore, the first Birkin bag was born when the Franco-British actress and singer sat next to Hermes executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in 1984 and told him she needed a stylish yet functional bag as a young mother. Photo: Reuters Dumas immediately sketched out the rectangular handbag, with a dedicated space for baby bottles. The company made that one for her, then started selling smaller versions to the public. The design became a hit and has helped fuel the growth of the fashion brand. Regular Birkin bags sell for more than $10,000. The first one - which has Birkin's J. B. initials on the flap and, unlike its descendants, has a strap that cannot be removed - was bought by a private Japanese buyer over the phone, Sotheby's said. The price was the highest on record for a fashion item, it added. 'It was a travel bag. Clearly, it was worn for nine years by Jane Birkin on a daily basis and the form is still very beautiful,' Aurelie Vassy, head of the Handbags and Fashion Department at Sotheby's Europe and Middle East, told Reuters. Birkin auctioned the bag in 1994 to support Sidaction, a French charity that fights HIV/AIDS. In 2000, when it went on sale again, a private French collector bought it. When British-born Birkin died in 2023, the French capital's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said the 'most Parisian of the English has left us'. Birkin had lived in her adopted France since the late 1960s and was remembered as much for her warmth and campaigning as for her acting and singing, most famously on the hit single 'Je t'aime…moi non plus'.