‘I didn’t know how to handle criticisms’: Actress Jacqueline Wong reflects on 2019 cheating scandal
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Jacqueline Wong (second from right) with the DJs of the radio show 903 Music.
PHOTO: JACQUELINEBWONG/INSTAGRAM
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HONG KONG – Hong Kong actress Jacqueline Wong, who was caught in a cheating scandal with married Hong Kong singer Andy Hui in April 2019,
The 34-year-old made the admission during an interview on Monday on Hong Kong radio show 903 Music, her first public interview in more than four years.
Wong’s image was seriously affected after the controversy, with her acting career derailed as she disappeared from the small screen. Her then-boyfriend, Hong Kong actor Kenneth Ma, broke up with her.
She has since made her comeback to the entertainment industry as a singer-songwriter in 2023, releasing two songs she wrote the lyrics and music for – Crown Me and Punching Bag.
She appeared on 903 Music to promote the latter track, saying she was nervous as she had not done a live broadcast for a while.
“I feel as if my heart is beating uncontrollably and going to pop out soon,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Addressing the backlash she faced after the 2019 scandal, Wong said: “I might have been bothered by the criticisms in the past and did not know how to handle them, but I have since calmed down.”
She added: “Frankly speaking, I have heard all types of harsh words. What others said about me was due to my past actions. What I can do now is to do my part, as there are some things not within my control.”
Wong disclosed that her then employer, broadcaster TVB, had invited her to film dramas or variety shows and to discuss her future after the scandal, but she decided to take a different career path. Her contract with TVB has since lapsed.
She said she did not expect herself to turn to music, as it was new to her. She went into music by accident while humming songs during the pandemic.
She then tried writing lyrics and decided to take online music lessons conducted by an American music school. She also learnt how to write lyrics from Hong Kong lyricist Cheung Cho Kiu.
Wong credited her boyfriend Lai Man Wang,
She admitted she was afraid of interacting with people for a while after the scandal. She adopted a dog and began to chat with other dog owners, gradually opening up to others.
Her family also helped her overcome challenges, and she decided to restart her life as she could not bear to see her father constantly worrying about her.
