Hong Kong stars Eric Tsang and Michael Tse recently performed in Malaysia and took a photo with Malaysian anti-communist singer Namewee, which was reported by the Malaysian media. During an event in Genting, Malaysia on July 19, they coincidentally ran into Namewee, who was also attending the event. They took a group photo together, with everyone looking happy and casual. In the photo, Michael Tse even had his arm around Namewee’s shoulder, showing a friendly camaraderie. Namewee later shared the photo on Facebook, wishing them success in their performances.
However, after the photo was leaked online, it sparked controversy among Hong Kong netizens, leading Eric Tsang and Michael Tse to quickly release separate statements “disconnecting” themselves from Namewee. They emphasized their so-called “patriotic” stance in their statements but avoided mentioning Namewee by name, which prompted online users to mock them as having the “most timid disconnect statements.”
In his statement, Michael Tse claimed that he was unaware of Namewee’s background or controversial actions when taking the photo, and if he had known, he wouldn’t have associated with him. Eric Tsang also echoed a similar sentiment in his statement, asserting his dedication to upholding national dignity and ethnic emotions as a Chinese person, claiming that the photo was merely a courtesy interaction in a public setting and that he was unaware of Namewee’s background or actions.
However, sharp-eyed netizens pointed out that Michael Tse had collaborated with Namewee back in 2014, questioning his sudden claim of not knowing him well now. This inconsistency led to further criticism and ridicule from online users, with some bringing up past incidents to mock the stars.
Following the backlash, Namewee responded on Facebook mockingly, stating that they had deleted the previous group photo post “to avoid affecting the peace and stability of the ‘motherland’ and the safety of comrades in the Greater Bay Area of Hong Kong.” He challenged the critics to question their own bosses instead of continuing to question him, ending his remarks with a sarcastic remark towards the critics.
Namewee later playfully acknowledged the incident by saying, “I’ve decided to admit my mistake. It’s just a little squall, so I’ll bravely show weakness and scold my brainless self.” He also shared a link to a music video for his anti-communist song “Letter of Repentance,” which he co-created with Hong Kong lyricist Lin Xi, who currently resides in Taiwan.
Known as the “genius singer-songwriter,” Namewee has gained popularity for his anti-communist works such as “Fragile” and others, which have garnered high views online. Despite being a thorn in the side of the Chinese Communist Party, Namewee has been unafraid to touch upon sensitive topics during his career in Taiwan. Last year, even though physically in Malaysia during Taiwan’s National Day, he posted a photo of the flag of the Republic of China on Facebook, wishing Taiwan a happy birthday.
In the past, Namewee has called out singers who have chosen to remain silent or show support for the Chinese Communist Party, emphasizing the importance of standing against oppression.