The entertainment industry was hit with the shocking news that Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛) passed away in Japan due to a flu infection at the age of 48. At the end of last month, she attended a friend’s wedding in high spirits and it was hard to believe how fast things changed in just ten days.
Barbie was vacationing with her family in Japan over the Lunar New Year when she contracted the flu, which developed into pneumonia and led to her passing. She and her husband, Koo Jun Yup, had originally planned to celebrate their third wedding anniversary on February 8, but after the incident, he struggled to accept her passing. There were even several hours where no one could reach him. When the news of her death reached South Korea, the local media managed to contact him and he tearfully confirmed the news was not fake. Barbie’s sister Dee Hsu (徐熙娣) was so heartbroken that she could not speak.
Wang Xiaofei (汪小菲), who had been at odds with Barbie due to their divorce litigation, quietly changed his social media profile photo to all black upon hearing the tragic news. He was vacationing in Thailand with his wife Mandy, his mother, and his mother-in-law. Yesterday, he swiftly flew back to Taiwan. It is believed he returned to consult a lawyer regarding the custody of their children and the distribution of the inheritance, as the divorce proceedings with Barbie were still not settled. He arrived with red eyes at the Taoyuan airport at 6 p.m. in the evening. He put his hands together and bowed, addressing the press, “Please say more good things about her.” When reporters asked if he was back to assist the family, he teared up and shook his head. When asked if he would be flying to Japan, he responded, “She was also my family.”
Two hours later, Dee’s second daughter, Lily, and her younger sister returned early to Taiwan. The two sisters, wearing hats and masks, walked quickly and quietly, accompanied only by an elder. Dee was not seen with them.
Barbie’s mother, who had always adored her daughter, only hoped to fulfill Barbie’s last wish. She shared a message through famous producer Wang Weizhong (王偉忠) and said, “First of all, thank you very much for caring about Barbie. After Barbie passed away, our family is overwhelmed with sadness. We apologize for not being able to answer phone calls and elaborate on the details. Please understand.” Barbie’s body was cremated in Japan and the date for the return of her ashes to Taiwan was still unclear. Her mother said, “Because I have to bring Barbie home, many complicated procedures need to be completed in Japan first. We are still handling the paperwork, so we are temporarily unable to return to Taiwan. I hope reporters can give us a little more time.”
Upon hearing the news, Barbie’s close friend Chia Yeong Chieh (賈永婕), immediately flew to Japan to see her friend one last time. She revealed that Barbie looked peaceful, as if she were just sleeping. Koo Jun Yup gave her a heartfelt kiss as a final goodbye, and Jia said, “Oppa’s crying broke our hearts.”
Inheritance May Fall Under Ex-Husband’s Control
Barbie’s sudden death has made the custody of her two children with Wang Xiaofei and the distribution of her 150 million inheritance the focal point. There are rumors that her children’s custody and inheritance would go to her current husband Koo Jun Yup, but a Taiwanese lawyer pointed out, “According to Taiwan’s Civil Code, after a divorce, even if it was originally agreed that one parent would have custody, if that parent passes away, the custody will automatically transfer to the surviving parent. After Barbie’s passing, the children’s custody will be transferred to Wang Xiaofei.” Furthermore, “Even if there is a will, it will be of no effect because of the Civil Code. Only the surviving parent can write a will designating a guardian.”
The lawyer continued, “If Wang Xiaofei wants to take the two underage children, he has the legal right to do so. Since Koo Jun Yup did not adopt the children legally, then he and Barbie are only in a marital relationship and custody would still be given to Wang Xiaofei.” He also mentioned, “In regards to the inheritance, although the inheritance will be shared equally by Koo Jun Yup and the two children, if Wang Xiaofei is the guardian, there could be much controversy over the future distribution. After all, he can claim the inheritance in the children’s names. Based on past experiences, if the biological father is a good person, the property will be put in trust until the children come of age. If the biological father has ulterior motives, there could be various legal disputes.”
The day Barbie’s death was confirmed, her former mother-in-law, immediately posted a video on social media, saying, “Don’t envy anyone, be brave and be yourself, let your own light illuminate your path.” In the video, she emphasized the importance of personal judgment, saying, “If you don’t speak, they let the haters attack you, so if you don’t speak about your achievements, they will brainwash fans who don’t know me.” At the end of the video, she posted photos of herself, Wang Xiaofei, and other colleagues. After the video was posted, netizens angrily criticized her: “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re just seeking attention, “Does it taste like blood buns?”, “Barbie is gone, and you’re posting this,” and “What a terrifying devil!”
Friends Grieve Barbie’s Passing
Barbie’s death has left many friends and colleagues deeply saddened. Taiwanese singer Christine Fan (范瑋琪) expressed her sorrow, saying, “It’s too painful to say anything!” and posted a black image on social media in tribute. Her husband, Blackie Chen (陳建州), also expressed his heartbreak, saying, “We are extremely sad and we will always remember her.” Good friend, Aya Liu (阿雅), lamented, “Last month at our gathering, we were joking about how we’ve known each other for over 30 years. We said we should meet more often, but we never imagined that would be our last gathering.” Taiwanese model-actress Lin Chiling (林志玲) was also devastated, saying, “Barbie’s passing is so shocking and regrettable. Her unique charm and talent accompanied us through countless moments. She was so memorable whether it be her great performances on screen to her sincere and determined attitude in life. May she rest in peace in another world, free from worry.” Vivian Hsu (徐若瑄) shared her grief on social media, posting, “My dear, R.I.P. Kindness will continue and love will always remain.”
Barbie’s co-star from Meteor Garden <流星花園> Jerry Yan expressed through his manager, “I’m thankful I got to meet you in your carefree, childlike years. You always said to treat every day as the last and to live it to the fullest. I hope you walk slowly this time. In the other world, there will be no disturbances, just peace.” Another F4 member, Ken Chu (朱孝天) also mourned, saying, “Sigh… this is so shocking!”
Barbie had worked with Louis Koo (古天樂) and Nick Cheung (張家輝) in the movie Connected <保持通話>. Louis expressed his disbelief at the news, saying, “I am so shocked. My brain stopped and I’m at a loss for words. I can’t believe it’s true. Rest in peace!” Nick lamented, “It’s such a pity and so shocking, especially since she was so young. This sad news reminds everyone to pay more attention to something as seemingly minor as a cold. Be extra careful in life! Miss Barbie Hsu, may you rest in peace.”
A fortune teller had once predicted that Barbie had a “dried-up” fate, saying, “Things are not favourable right now. Unless she takes good care of herself for three to five years, her luck would be hard to recover. Rushing into the next marriage would make things worse. This marriage would not only bring changes, but could even harm her health, shortening her lifespan. At certain stages in life, especially when luck is poor, one should not rush into life decisions, or they may unknowingly lose their fortune, leading to regrets later on.” Barbie had once mentioned on a show that she had been told by a fortune teller that she would not live past 50. She often talked about her views on life and death, calmly stating, “No matter what difficulties I face, I can keep going. After all, no matter what happens, the worst that can happen is death. I believe the world after death is very beautiful.”
Source: [1]
This article is written by Kiki for JayneStars.com.
