Since the sudden passing of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu in February this year, her two young children have been living with their father, businessman Wang Xiaofei, and his new wife, Mandy Ma.
However, Ma’s role as stepmother has sparked controversy – with many feeling she’s overstepping her bounds.
According to a Sin Chew report citing Taiwanese media, members of Hsu’s family now have to get Ma’s permission before they can visit the children.
During a livestream, Ma explained that although the children are attending school in Taiwan and have formed their own social circles, they still need time to adjust to their new home life.
As a result, even close relatives on Hsu’s side reportedly face difficulties seeing them, due to what many view as Ma’s strict gatekeeping.
The report also noted that the children were previously photographed visiting the home of Taiwanese TV host Blackie Chen. However, Ma has allegedly banned any future visits, claiming the environment is not suitable for the children.
This move may be linked to past controversy surrounding Chen, who was accused of sexual harassment in 2023 by a former artiste from his agency.
Chen has denied the allegations and subsequently sued the actress for defamation.
Hsu, also known by her stage name “Big S”, died at the age of 48 on Feb 2 after she came down with influenza-related pneumonia while on vacation with her family in Japan. She was later cremated in Japan.
