Last week, fans of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh (谢侑芯) were shocked to learn that the social media personality had passed away at age 31 while on a trip in Malaysia. As more details about her death emerged, Malaysian singer Namewee (黄明志) became the subject of scrutiny.
According to reports, Iris was found dead at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 22nd October 2025 (Wednesday). However, her death was belatedly revealed to the public on 30th October 2025 (Thursday). The 31-year-old former nurse was found unconscious in the hotel room bathtub. Her manager, Chris, confirmed the cause of death was a heart attack, adding that it struck so quickly that there was “no chance for emergency treatment”.
Shockingly, local authorities would reveal that Namewee was at the scene when Iris was unconscious. He and Iris were reportedly working together on a video and discussed work matters in the hotel room. The controversial figure was also found with nine blue pills on him, which the police suspected to be drugs, prompting immediate arrest. Namewee was charged in court on 24th October 2025 (Friday), but pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been released on bail.
Following the new reports, Namewee shared a post on social media, refuting his involvement in Iris’s death and the claims of drug use. In the post dated 2nd November 2025 (Sunday), the media personality wrote, “I have never used or carried any drugs. At most, I’ve been drinking a lot lately. Believe it or not, the truth will come out when the police report is released, which should take another two or three months.”
Namewee also explained that the reason he didn’t respond to the allegations before was that the case was still under investigation and he couldn’t disclose details. He also said he has been subjected to blackmail in the past few days, likely due to his alleged involvement. The 42-year-old also expressed sadness over Iris’s death, additionally lamenting that the ambulance came an hour late.
Despite Namewee’s denial, the public continued to express doubt in his claims. Iris’s manager also slammed the Malaysian star, arguing that his statement is inconsistent with the official police reports. As of now, the case is still under investigation, but what are your thoughts on this?
Sources: New Straits Times, China Press (1)(2), Facebook, Oriental Daily
