Celebrities, NGO workers pay tribute to actress Barbie Hsu after her death

Taipei, Feb. 3 (CNA) Celebrities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are among those mourning actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛) after her sister confirmed on Monday that she had died in Japan from influenza complications that led to pneumonia.

In a post on Chinese platform Weibo, actor Huang Xiaoming (黃曉明), who worked with Hsu in the TV series "Summer's Desire" (泡沫之夏), described her as a "bright soul" with the kindness and sense of justice of a heroine.

"It is said that a truly radiant soul is not eroded by time... I hope the cherry blossoms on the shore where she now rests never wither, and become the nightly breeze that embraces the starry skies," Huang wrote.

Model-turned-actress Lin Chi-ling (林志玲) called Hsu's passing "shocking and heartbreaking" through her agent, saying she had been impressed by Hsu's outstanding portrayals of various roles and her determined attitude toward life.

"I hope she finds peace in the other world, free from worries and fears, and her family stays strong during this difficult time. We will always remember her kindness and beauty."

Meanwhile, Jason Baker, senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia, an animal rights group, mourned Hsu's death in a post on X.

"Barbie used her fame to expose the cruelty of the fur industry, educating people about how animals are confined to tiny cages, trapped in painful steel-jaw traps and killed by electrocution or gassing. She spoke up countless times for animals," Baker wrote.

Lim Ting-yi (林婷憶), a PETA Asia campaigner, told CNA that Hsu, an animal lover, joined PETA's "Bear Card for Freedom" art exhibitions in 2018. She hand-colored a card to raise awareness of the suffering of bears in circuses, where they are chained by the neck and forced to stand and perform, Lim said.

The artwork was exhibited in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

In 2020, Hsu wrote a letter to Chinese fashion brands that sell fur, urging them to cease selling such products and expressed sorrow for the plight of animals in the fur industry, Lim said, adding that Hsu believed "fashion should be cool, not cruel."

Entertainer couple Charles "Blackie" Chen (陳建州) and Christie Fan (范瑋琪) told CNA they were "heartbroken" and "deeply saddened," but that they would remember Hsu forever.

Fan shared a solid black image without a caption in an Instagram post in tribute.

Similarly, singer Show Lo (羅志祥), who co-hosted "100% Entertainment" (娛樂百分百) and starred alongside Hsu in the TV series "Corner with Love" (轉角*遇到愛), wrote "Rest in peace" in a post on the platform.

Meanwhile, TV producer Wang Wei-chung (王偉忠) said in a statement on behalf of Hsu's mother, Huang Chun-mei (黃春梅), that the family is focused on handling the necessary paperwork to bring her body back to Taiwan and does not have time to respond to media inquiries.

Thanking the public for their care and concern, Hsu's mother also called on reporters not to disturb the family upon their return to Taiwan or take intrusive photographs, which she said had always been against Hsu's wishes during her lifetime.

Hsu's family shares a close bond with Wang. In late January, Hsu attended the follow-up wedding ceremony of Wang's daughter in what would end up being one of her last public appearances.