Tao is sorry for cheating on wife

Singer David Tao (left) had an affair with Chinese artist manager Yang Ziqing.
Singer David Tao (above) had an affair with Chinese artist manager Yang Ziqing. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

TAIPEI • At a press conference yesterday, singer David Tao admitted cheating on his wife Penny Chiang with Chinese artist manager Yang Ziqing last month.

"In this regard, I feel ashamed. I did wrong," Tao, 45, said.

The star, who attended the press conference with his agent and lawyer, also apologised to his wife, her family, his mother and his fans, said NetEase website.

He choked up as he said: "Penny, father-in-law, mother-in-law, please forgive me. Mum, I let you down. But thank you for not leaving me and for loving me."

Responding to interviews Yang did with Chinese website Quan Min Xing Tan, he said he had known her since the end of 2010 and dated her before his marriage in August last year, reported Central News Agency.

After the wedding, he texted her occasionally and met her only once, in Chengdu on June 19, he said.

"This meeting was the cause of my infidelity. I can't escape it and no matter how things happened, I was wrong," said Tao.

His wife is 15 years his junior.

Yang, who is in her early 20s, said she dated Tao for six years. The story of her relationship with Tao broke last month, after Quan Min Xing Tan published screenshots of the two's WeChat messages.

Later, the website did interviews with Yang and released more WeChat messages.

Asked if his relationship with Yang overlapped with his romance with his wife, he said he did not record when he was with Yang. "The relationship wasn't related to anyone else," he said.

As for Yang's actual age, "I'm not completely sure", he said.

In one message to Yang, he said he married to please his mother.

Asked about the comment, his agent replied on his behalf, saying it was just a "frivolous answer".

The agent and lawyer said the star would sue both Yang and Quan Min Xing Tan, reported Central News Agency.

His agent said: "Compensation is not the point. We want a public apology."

The lawyer said Yang had initiated the June 19 date and it was suspicious how she was photographed after she met Tao.

The star was asked if he regretted meeting his former girlfriend.

He said: "I don't regret knowing her. I really thought she was a kind, good girl. As for my wife, I will only love this woman in this life."

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 08, 2015, with the headline Tao is sorry for cheating on wife. Subscribe