Taipei, April 25 (CNA) A memorial service was held Saturday in Taichung for Taiwanese model and actress Cindy (楊又穎), whose tragic suicide earlier this week apparently as a result of cyberbullying, sparked a nationwide debate on such forms of abuse and the proper punishment for them.
Family and friends, including those from the entertainment circle, attended the service at the Taichung City Mortuary Services Office. Many fans also held flowers and magazines with Cindy on the cover to bid farewell to the entertainer.
Daughter of former Council of Agriculture head Peng Tso-kwei (彭作奎), the 24-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Peng Hsin-yi (彭馨逸), was found dead at her residence in Taichung on Tuesday, along with a helium bottle and a farewell note.
She was one of the hosts of the variety show "Love Player (愛玩咖)" between 2011 and 2013 and made her movie debut in "First of May (五月一號)," which is due to be released next month.
In her suicide note, Cindy said she hopes her death could help highlight the dreadful power of verbal bullying.
Much of the abuse targeting Cindy over the past several months has appeared on a Facebook page that allows Internet users to vent their dislike of celebrities, bloggers and other individuals anonymously.
The posts called her phony, naive and hypocritical, among other things. The Facebook page has since been shut down.
"Hsin-yi, remember that those who love you are far, far, far more than those who slander you. You have our blessings. You are not alone at all," Cindy's brother Peng Jen-to (彭仁鐸)said at the memorial service.
Veteran performer Lang Tsu-yun (郎祖筠), who also attended the service, expressed hope for an anti-bullying law to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office has launched an investigation into the incident to find out whether the online insults have violated the law.
Singer-songwriter Wang Leehom (王力宏), former Taipei mayoral candidate Sean Lien (連勝文) and other celebrities and high-profile figures have openly condemned cyberbullying after Cindy's death.
After cremation, her ashes will be reportedly sprayed in a natural burial ground in New Taipei.
(By Chen Shu-fen, Jay Chen and Christie Chen)
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Related stories:
●April 23: Celebrities deplore cyberbullying in wake of model's death
●April 23: Family confirms entertainer Cindy victimized by online bullying