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The publicist of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, who was found dead in a Kuala Lumpur hotel room shared with Malaysian rapper Namewee, has paid tribute to his friend, hitting back at a cascade of “outrageous” rumours about the former nurse that have filled the information gap left by Kuala Lumpur police. Hsieh, 31, who shot to fame over TikTok and OnlyFans, was found dead in a bathroom of the Banyan Tree Hotel on October 22. She had arrived two days earlier in Malaysia to reportedly work on a video collaboration with Namewee, a controversial rapper and actor, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee. The 42-year-old Malaysian entertainer – who has had a string of run-ins with authorities from Malaysia to China over his lyrics – was found in the same room as Hsieh and arrested over drug use and possession after a number of pills were found by police. A cocktail of Ecstasy, methamphetamine, ketamine and cannabis was found in his system. Denying any role in Hsieh’s death, he said in a social media post on Sunday that emergency services took over an hour to arrive after he discovered her unresponsive in the bathroom. Namewee was initially released on bail on October 24 but was rearrested on Wednesday after surrendering to the Kuala Lumpur police. Police initially classified Hsieh’s case as “sudden death” but opened a murder investigation on Tuesday. They have not linked Namewee specifically to her death and have released only a slow drip-feed of information on a case which has gripped Malaysia, where Namewee has millions of social media fans. In an interview with This Week in Asia, Hsieh’s publicist has urged the Malaysian police to carry out a thorough investigation into the death of a “profoundly thoughtful … gentle yet strong” friend. Asking to be identified only by his first name, Chris, to protect his other clients, he said Hsieh’s body had yet to be released to her family, who are in too poor health to travel from Taiwan. The police have not shared any official autopsy results. “Both the family and the entire industry were in shock over her sudden disappearance,” he said, recalling the news of her death. “The lack of public statements from the authorities is understandable, as this has now become a sensitive international investigation … we are awaiting verified updates through official legal channels,” he said. Hsieh, who had worked with Namewee in a 2020 music video, had “expressed genuine excitement” about collaborating once more with the Malaysian star, Chris said. Addressing speculation over the relationship between his friend and the rapper, he said “she rarely spoke of an ongoing friendship with him”. He also refuted rumours and speculation – including over possible drug use – which have filled the information void left by police as “random daily headlines about the most outrageous claims”. The family has appointed a lawyer in Malaysia who is handling communications with the authorities. “We are awaiting verified updates through official legal channels,” Chris said. “For now, we continue to exercise patience and trust in the investigative process.” Nursing internet fame Hsieh was also known across social media as “nurse goddess”, after an early career in healthcare, which morphed into full-time influencing after she rose to fame in 2019. “Opportunities soon followed: offers to appear in music videos, commercials and photo shoots,” Chris said. “During that period, she also live streamed to supplement her nursing income, and before long, that side venture became far more lucrative than her hospital work.” Her real breakthrough came when she started making short-form video and TikTok reels that she quickly learned to script, direct and edit herself, he said. Hsieh had hundreds of thousands of social media followers, drawn to her scantily clad videos with a comedic edge. “For those who knew her personally, she was a source of light. For those who only knew her through her work, I hope her reels continue to bring them laughter and comfort,” Chris said. “Iris wanted to make people smile – genuinely smile – and she was willing to take risks to achieve that.” Malaysians have been transfixed by the case, which has played out on social media – from Namewee broadcasting his denials and saying he was “deeply saddened” by Hsieh’s death to his voluntary surrender to the police early Wednesday morning. According to reports, Namewee’s long-term girlfriend, known as Sarah, accompanied him to the police station to surrender. His girlfriend of 15 years serves as his stylist and make-up artist, but Namewee has mostly kept his relationship with her private. Police said they would detain Namewee until next Monday. On surrendering, he said in a statement that he “will fully cooperate with the police investigation to provide an explanation to the public and the deceased’s family”. He also denied drug use, saying in earlier posts: “I’ve just been drinking more lately.” “Believe it or not, the truth will come out once the police report is released, which should take another two or three months,” he added. The entertainer is known for his provocative and politically charged works that have touched sensitive issues in Malaysia including religion, race and politics. He has acted in films including Friend Zone and Nasi Lemak 1.0, and was writer-director for the banned 2020 film Babi. He rose to fame while living in Taiwan in 2007 after posting his music videos on social media. In 2021, the Johor-born rapper released a song poking fun at Chinese nationalists, touching on sensitive subjects such as Taiwan and the Uygur community in Xinjiang. The viral track led to his works being banned by Chinese authorities.
