Mandopop stars and fans express shock, disbelief over Coco Lee’s sudden death

Tributes have poured in for Hong Kong-born singer

Coco Lee after her death was confirmed by her sisters

on Wednesday, with many singers who had shared the stage with her and fans revealing their shock and pain at the news.

The 48-year-old died in a Hong Kong hospital on Wednesday following a suicide attempt over the weekend, her family said in a statement.

Singapore singer JJ Lin expressed his hurt from losing a “dear friend”.

“I wish life could have been gentler on your soul. The world has lost one of the most iconic performers and artistes of all time,” he wrote on Facebook, accompanied by a photo of him and Lee attending a tennis match.

Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou posted a throwback to the last time he and Lee performed together on stage in 2013, with a short caption “Dao Ma Dan forever” referencing the song he had composed for her.

Singapore singer Stefanie Sun posted some playful snaps taken with Lee, thanking her for “the best smiles and the best performances”.

Taiwanese singer Angela Chang expressed her disbelief at Lee’s death on Weibo, writing: “I will always miss you.”

Selina Jen and Ella Chen, both members of Taiwanese girl group S.H.E, also paid tribute to Lee.

Jen – who had previously proclaimed Lee as her inspiration in the group’s own steps towards stardom when they won a singing competition with Lee’s song Reflection – said Lee will always be her idol, adding that she was lucky to have met and embraced her.

Chen expressed her disbelief at Lee’s “decision”, with reference to her attempted suicide.

“As radiant as your smile was, that’s how heartbroken you have left us,” she wrote on Instagram. “Hoping you will have no more illness and pain (...) no more worries.”

Known for her high-energy dance performances, Lee previously revealed that she was born with a defect in her left leg.

In March, she posted on social media that she had to learn to walk again after undergoing major leg surgery.

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi offered her hope in a concise statement on Weibo, “wishing there is no pain in heaven”.

Lee had been diagnosed with depression years earlier, having experienced marital problems in her union with Canadian billionaire businessman Bruce Rockowitz.

They were rumoured to have separated, although Lee never addressed the speculation.

“2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Coco’s singing career,” Lee’s two elder sisters Carol and Nancy said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Coco is also known to have worked tirelessly to open up a new world for Chinese singers in the international music scene, and she went all out to shine for the Chinese,” they added. “We are proud of her.”

After news of Lee’s death broke on Wednesday, her fans took to her Weibo account, leaving comments expressing their doubt in this age of “fake news”.

“Post something quickly to show it’s not real,” one fan wrote.

Lee’s last post on Weibo in May announcing a new song release had hinted at an imminent comeback performance after her hospitalisation months earlier.

A 40-second audio clip ostensibly from Lee was also circulated by her fans on Sunday, the day she attempted suicide. Speaking in Mandarin then English in the clip, Lee thanked her fans for having her back, promising to continue working hard before wishing them happiness and good health.

Her fans on Weibo have taken it as her farewell message and last words to her supporters, with one fan writing that Lee had “broken her promise” to return to the stage.

Another lamented that they “hoped the winter in her heart had passed” and prayed that “there was no depression in heaven”.