Malaysian rapper Namewee has confirmed that he’s fine after faking his death on April Fool’s Day.
In a Facebook post at 2.20am on April 2, the 40-year-old said he had done so to share the importance of “pre-planning for one’s passing”.
According to Namewee, many things happened to him throughout the past year – including facing considerable pressure, receiving warning signs about his health and having multiple visits to the hospital emergency room.
The rapper – whose real name is Wee Meng Chee – added that he lost many friends, his pet of 13 years and saw many unexpected celebrity deaths too.
He said: “Something you realise at the end of your life is that no matter how great your achievements are or how extraordinary you become, everyone will still face death in the end.”
The All In (2024) star continued: “This made me realise the significance of pre-funeral arrangements. I wrote a song, filmed a music video, planned a pre-funeral farewell ceremony and intended to turn everything into a documentary.”
In his post, Namewee called for everyone to be brave in facing both life and death. According to him, pre-funeral arrangements are widely practised by many people overseas.
“When discussing death, we shouldn’t avoid talking about it but face it bravely!” he wrote.
On April 1 at 12.02am, a black-and-white photo of Namewee was posted to social media with the phrase “1983-2024”.
In an “obituary” posted four hours later, it is said that a “wake” would be held from 2pm to 10pm and that a “farewell ceremony” would take place from 8pm to 10pm that same day.
A photo showing a coffin and a display of his career highlights was also uploaded on social media that afternoon.
While some left condolences in the comments section, others were sceptical.
In his Facebook post, Namewee said he’s touched to see many people who cared about him and that he feels lucky to be able to "see my own funeral" and "experience things others can't".
As for those who were dragging him down and saying they were disappointed with his actions, Namewee regarded them as “fake fans”.
“If you're a true fan, you would understand the importance of this event and the fact that I have conducted other much drastic campaigns before.
“These are the things Wee Ming Chee would do. It’s not surprising at all. If creators don’t innovate, it’s akin to neglecting one’s duty!” he commented under his post.
Namewee’s new music video is set to be released on April 4 at 4.44pm. The rapper also told viewers to look out for his new documentary.
