Family and loved ones continue to mourn the death of screen icon Patrick Tse (谢贤), who passed away on 16th July 2026 (Thursday). One of the people is the late actor’s ex-partner, Coco Ma, who broke her silence for the first time since his passing.
Over the weekend, Coco appeared in an emotional livestream where she reflected on her 12-year-long relationship with Patrick and his recent death. In case you’re wondering, Coco and Patrick previously dated from 2005 to 2017. Their relationship gained notoriety because of the significant age difference, with Coco being 49 years younger than Patrick.
During the livestream, Coco appeared in an all-black ensemble with her hair neatly tied back. While she appeared composed at first, she gradually teared up as she reminisced about her ex-partner. At one point, as she wiped away her tears, she stood up and bowed to the camera to express her respect for Patrick.
As the livestream went on, the 41-year-old spoke candidly about her years-long relationship with Patrick. Coco admitted that she hasn’t entirely moved on, saying the split caused her deep pain. She also described her late partner as someone who played multiple roles in her life, saying he was like a father, brother and confidant.
Coco also opened up about her last meeting with the late actor, which happened in late 2018. The media personality said the pair met at a dinner gathering with some friends who were visiting Hong Kong from overseas. After the meal, they parted on cordial terms. However, Coco said she never imagined that the dinner would be their final farewell.
She also addressed the years-long speculation about why she and Patrick broke up. Coco said the turning point came during a hiking trip, where the veteran star became aware of the pair’s physical gap. Patrick was reportedly concerned that his advancing age might limit his younger partner’s future, and ultimately chose to end the relationship.
Coco also recently clarified the HK$20 million “breakup fee” that Patrick allegedly gave her when they separated to repay her for all the years they spent together. However, the media personality denied the claims, arguing that she wouldn’t have to continue working if the breakup fee had existed.
It’s understood that Coco has returned to her hometown in Henan, where she is living a quiet life with her family. She also remained single, despite her family’s efforts to introduce her to potential partners.
Sources: China Press, Dimsum Daily, Netease
