Celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee (left) shared on Facebook on May 16 a photo with Mark Lee (right), Mark Lee's wife Catherine Ng and a friend. Photo: Addy Lee/Facebook
Singaporean actor Mark Lee has urged his friend Addy Lee to not burn bridges with TV host Quan Yifeng.
The 54-year-old celebrity hairstylist hosted Facebook live streams on May 13 and 14. He brought up his beef with Quan, 51, after her daughter Eleanor Lee hogged headlines recently for allegedly making derogatory comments about the people of China.
The 25-year-old China-based Singaporean actress has denied making such remarks, but the incident dealt a major blow to her burgeoning career in the country.
Addy Lee then implied that what happened to her was “karmic retribution”.
On May 16, the hairstylist, who is now based in Thailand, shared on Facebook a photo of him having dinner with Mark Lee and his wife Catherine Ng in Bangkok.
“Thank you so much for taking care of me and teaching me along the way,” Lee wrote in Chinese. “You helped me without asking for anything in return, even when you were at the peak of your popularity.”
He added that the actor had no issues when they ran a hair salon business together for 30 years, regardless of whether they made money.
And when he once faced some problem in Europe, Mark Lee and his wife flew to the continent in the first instance to help him with his live-stream session.
“You never asked me how much I should pay you or how much commission you should get,” Addy Lee wrote. “You just treated me as a good friend and came over to help me. Thank you so much.”
Mark Lee told Shin Min Daily News that he recently met up with Addy Lee for dinner in Thailand. The actor was there to shoot the movie 3 Good Guys.
The 56-year-old said they did not talk much about the spat between Addy Lee and Quan.
Mark Lee told the Chinese-language evening daily: “I know only a little bit (about the saga) even though I am his good friend, so I can’t say much. I just told him not to be too harsh, so that there is still room for them to be cordial in the future.”
He said the hairstylist just smiled after hearing what he said and did not respond directly.
Mark Lee said that Addy Lee is a very kind person who is always willing to help when he sees others in need.
The actor also mentioned an unpleasant episode which happened between them.
“There was a period of time when he didn’t talk to me and I was puzzled,” Mark Lee said. “I spoke up about it and it turned out that a nasty person had been destroying our relationship behind our backs. We made up after opening up about it.”
The two first met between 1994 and 1995 when Addy Lee was Mark Lee’s hairstylist, and they then decided to run a hair salon together.
Mark Lee said he was not very involved in the business. Addy Lee suggested selling the business after more than 20 years as he wanted to go to Shanghai to open a hair salon and school. Mark Lee agreed.
“Addy is really a very diligent and hardworking person, and I had no grumbles whether the business was successful or not,” he told Shin Min. “And he is indeed a very good businessman, and he made a lot of money for the company at that time.”
Lee, who helms entertainment company King Kong Media Production, said their friendship has strengthened as there is no conflict of interest between them.
“I cherish every friendship, including with Addy, all the artistes in King Kong Media, director Neo and Hui Ge,” Mark Lee said, referring to filmmaker Jack Neo and local actor-comedian Henry Thia.
“Friendship between people is very simple. Be friends if you can get along well. If not, just nod when you meet,” he said. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
