2nd November 2025 – (Kuala Lumpur) Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, 31, died suddenly while on assignment in Malaysia, where she was found unconscious in a hotel bathtub. Local reports say Malaysian rapper Namewee, who was with Hsieh at the time, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession.
According to Malaysian media, an initial urine screening for Namewee indicated positive results for four substances: amphetamine, methamphetamine, ketamine and THC. Police sources further suggested they suspect the deceased may have taken drugs prior to her death and that she and Namewee may have engaged in sexual activity.
Police accounts reported that at about 12.30pm on 22nd October, Namewee, dressed in a white T‑shirt, cap and glasses, was stopped by officers as he prepared to leave a five‑star hotel in Kuala Lumpur due to allegedly suspicious behaviour. He was described as visibly nervous and denied drug use. Based on his statements, officers escorted him back to Hsieh’s room, where the case came to light.
The body of the victim was discovered naked in the bathtub of the hotel bathroom, with no water traces in the tub or on the floor. Namewee is said to have told police he and Hsieh had been collaborating on a video and met through the night in the room. Hsieh reportedly went to shower and, after about 30 minutes, failed to reappear. He said he then checked the bathroom, found her unresponsive in the tub and attempted CPR, but she could not be revived.
During a search of the scene, officers allegedly found quantities of narcotics and erectile dysfunction medication. Namewee was taken to a police station for drug testing.
Investigators believe the victim may have consumed drugs and had sexual relations with Namewee before her death, and are exploring whether she might have died on the bed and was subsequently moved to the bathroom. Police confirmed to Guang Ming Daily that Namewee is implicated in the case involving the Taiwanese influencer’s death in a hotel room, though the cause of death remains undetermined pending further examination.
Authorities said Namewee was charged on 24th October in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court with two counts relating to drug use and possession. He has pleaded not guilty, with the case scheduled for mention on 8th December, according to Sin Chew Daily.
Responding publicly, Namewee stated that he neither used nor carried drugs, acknowledging only heavier recent alcohol consumption, and said definitive police reports would clarify matters in the coming months. He added that he had refrained from earlier comments due to the ongoing investigation. Expressing condolences over Hsieh’s death, he criticised emergency response times, alleging the ambulance arrived nearly an hour late.
