Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE and C. ARUNO
TAIWANESE singer-songwriter Eli Hsieh says he carries a knife around to protect himself from loan sharks and has denied slashing his former girlfriend with it, reported Sin Chew Daily.
“I am innocent. I do not wish to issue a statement on this matter,” he said during a livestream.
It was reported earlier that the 30-year-old was arrested in Taipei’s Songshan district on Jan 5 morning for allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend with a knife in public after they had a heated argument outside an apartment complex.
He was later sent to hospital for psychological evaluation.
It was later revealed that the argument stemmed from the ex-girlfriend’s refusal to repay him his rental deposit of around NT$60,000 to NT$90,000 (RM9,020 to RM13,530).
During the livestream, Hsieh denied the attack.
“I did not brandish my knife at her as I am not mentally ill. That morning, I took all 17 of my pills. You are the worst partner I have dated,” he said during the session.
The police have since charged Hsieh with intimidation.
> Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun and her sister Sng Ee-mei appear to be having a major falling out after the latter claimed that she was severing ties with someone in her family, the daily also reported.
“For this person and me, we are no longer sisters from now on,” she wrote on Weibo on Jan 5.
The younger sibling explained that even though she was not a public figure, her life was subjected to scrutiny because of her famous sister.
“I’ve been living in her shadow for the past 20 years... So now, I hope to find a release.
“The first half of my life was not easy. For the next half of my life, I hope that you would allow me to live on my own terms,” Ee-mei wrote.
It was reported that Ee-mei’s ill feelings towards her sister had been festering for years.
Ee-mei, who just turned 40 and currently lives in Australia, bears a striking resemblance to Stefanie, 45.
> China actress Angelababy is said to be making a comeback to the entertainment industry by appearing on Season Five of the reality TV show Sisters Who Make Waves, the daily also reported.
Internet users speculate that the 34-year-old actress, who was earlier banned on social media after attending a burlesque show in Paris, is trying to use the popular show as a springboard to get back into the limelight.
It had been reported that Angelababy was muted on Chinese social media Weibo for “violation of relevant laws and regulations” after attending the racy Crazy Horse Paris cabaret in September.
Her Douyin, or the Chinese version of TikTok, account has also been blocked.
In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered a sweeping crackdown on the entertainment industry, with regulators moving to ban “politically incorrect” stars, cap salaries and rein in celebrity fan culture.
Sisters Who Make Waves showcases 30 celebrities competing against each other to debut in a seven-member girl group.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
