Malaysian rapper Namewee denies drug use and involvement in Taiwanese influencer’s death
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Malaysian rapper Namewee denied using drugs or having any involvement in the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh.
PHOTOS: NAMEWEE/FACEBOOK, IRISIRISSS900/INSTAGRAM
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KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian rapper Namewee has denied using drugs or having any involvement in the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, saying the truth would emerge when police reports are released in the coming months.
The 42-year-old posted a statement on Instagram on Nov 2 after what he described as “unsubstantiated news reports” linked him to the death of Ms Hsieh Yu-hsin, also known as Iris Hsieh, who was found dead in a hotel bathtub on Oct 22.
“I haven’t used drugs, nor have I been carrying any. At most, I’ve been drinking more lately. Believe it or not, the truth will come out when the police report is released, which should take another two or three months,” he wrote in Chinese, according to Malaysia news outlet Sin Chew Daily.
Namewee also alleged that he and others involved have been subjected to blackmail in recent days and that they are “ready to fight to the end”.
He expressed sadness over Ms Hsieh’s death and alleged that the ambulance arrived almost an hour late.
Sin Chew Daily reported on Nov 2 that the assistant commissioner of the Dang Wangi police district confirmed Namewee was involved in the case and has been charged with drug use and possession of drugs.
According to Sin Chew Daily, Namewee and Ms Hsieh had been working on filming a video together and were discussing matters in the hotel room.
Ms Hsieh then went to the bathroom to take a shower alone, but allegedly did not come out after half an hour, prompting Namewee to check on her.
It was reported that he found her body after she did not come out of the bathroom and called the police. Her body was found in a bathtub without any water in the tub or on the floor.
Sin Chew Daily reported that Ms Hsieh’s cause of death is still unclear and is being investigated by the forensic team.
But Taiwanese media reported that her manager Chris was quoted as saying the cause of death was a heart attack.
A check on the Malaysian court’s e-filing system showed that on Oct 24, an individual going by Namewee’s real name, Wee Meng Chee, was charged in two separate Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Courts (Criminal).
Ms Hsieh, also known as “Nurse Goddess” by fans, was reportedly on a shoot abroad when news of her death broke on Oct 30. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Correction note: This article has been edited for clarity.
