Malaysian rapper Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, has been remanded in custody in connection with the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh. Hsieh was found deceased in a Kuala Lumpur hotel bathtub two weeks prior. Police state Namewee, 42, was the last person seen with Hsieh, 31, who was in Malaysia to discuss a commercial video Namewee had agreed to direct. Namewee denies charges of illegal drug use and possession, for which he was previously granted bail. Police reclassified Hsieh's death as murder, leading to Namewee's re-arrest to assist in the investigation. He turned himself in early Wednesday and has been placed on remand for six days.
Remand and Investigation
Namewee contacted emergency services at 12:30 local time (05:30 GMT) on October 22 after discovering Hsieh unresponsive in the bathroom. Police arrested Namewee the same day following the discovery of nine blue pills, believed to be ecstasy, in the hotel room. Despite his denial of drug use, Namewee tested positive for several illicit substances, including amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC.
On Monday, Namewee pleaded not guilty to drug charges and was subsequently released on bail. The case was later reclassified from "sudden death" to murder. Early Wednesday, Namewee reported to the police station and was then remanded for six days.
Public Statements and Police Remarks
Namewee has maintained his innocence, accusing local media of "chasing shadows" in their reporting. On Tuesday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus informed reporters that Namewee had "gone into hiding" after the case reclassification. Mr. Fadil also stated that police were awaiting post-mortem and toxicology results to determine the cause of death.
Before turning himself in on Wednesday, Namewee posted a video clip on Instagram stating he had arrived at the police station and would "fully co-operate with the police to provide answers to the public and the bereaved family." He added, "I won't run away."
Background of Namewee
Wee Meng Chee, known as Namewee, is recognized for his music. He has 3.6 million subscribers on YouTube and 856,000 followers on Instagram and is popular among Mandarin-speaking audiences in Taiwan and China.
His career has included several incidents that have drawn attention from authorities:
- 2007: He gained initial recognition with a remake of Malaysia's national anthem, "Negaraku." Authorities considered sedition charges, but did not proceed after he publicly apologized and removed the video.
- 2016: He was arrested for his music video "Oh My God," which depicted him rapping in front of places of worship in Malaysia. He was jailed for four days.
- 2021: His song "Fragile," which critiqued certain online nationalist groups and discussed sensitive issues such as Xinjiang and Taiwan sovereignty, was banned by China. Namewee stated to the BBC in 2021 that he viewed the ban as "part of my creative work" and sometimes intended to "cross the red line" to raise awareness of issues.
Namewee has collaborated with other Mandarin artists, including Taiwanese rock duo Power Station and Chinese-Australian singer Kimberly Chen. He has received three nominations for Best Mandarin Male Singer at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards. Additionally, he has participated in filmmaking, both starring in and directing films that have generated discussion regarding their portrayals of race and religion.
Association with Iris Hsieh
Iris Hsieh previously appeared in Namewee's music video for "China Reggaeton," a song he released in January 2020.