Over the weekend, news broke that Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh (谢侑芯) died at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The biggest suspect in the case at the moment is Malaysian singer Namewee (黄明志), who is currently facing his own drug use charges.
To recap, Iris was pronounced dead at a hotel in KL late last month, with the cause of death being a heart attack. Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was also present in the hotel room with Iris, reportedly discussing work. The controversial figure claimed he found the influencer unconscious in the bathtub and tried to perform CPR on her, but to no avail. He would later call the ambulance, but Iris had sadly passed away.
However, news outlets reported that police also arrested Namewee after finding several blue pills on his person, which they suspect to be ecstasy. Reports say the singer was also charged with drug use and possession, but pleaded not guilty. He has now been released on bail, and the court has set his case for mention on 18th December 2025. While Namewee denied the allegations, authorities confirmed the charges against the social media personality.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus also revealed that a subsequent drug test found the 41-year-old positive for a cocktail of drugs, including amphetamines, methamphetamines, ketamine and THC. Additionally, a local news outlet obtained Namewee’s mugshot and a photo suspected to be the alleged ecstasy pills found on Namewee. As shown in the picture, one packet contained two pills and another contained seven.
Understandably, the photos and police confirmation sparked more backlash towards Namewee. Fellow media personalities also denounced their connection to the singer amid the controversy. Taiwanese influencer Vivian Hsieh, who is a friend of Iris and a former collaborator of Namewee, said she’s ashamed to have worked with the Malaysian. She also called him out for ignoring her messages when she tried to reach out about Iris’s whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Iris’s family will reportedly visit Malaysia later this week to retrieve the influencer’s ashes. It’s hard to fathom what they’re going through at the moment, but we hope they can find solace during this difficult time. What are your thoughts on this?
Sources: Malay Mail, China Press, The Star
