TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A tragic incident involving a 17-year-old girl who took her own life after experiencing repeated sexual assaults at a McDonald's (麥當勞) in Taiwan has sparked widespread online speculation. Many rumors suggest the alleged perpetrator is related to the chairman of McDonald's Taiwan. However, the local branch of the U.S. fast food chain quickly dismissed these claims as baseless on Wednesday (Dec. 25).
The internet buzzed with allegations that the supervisor, surnamed Li, comes from a prominent family, with business interests spanning the electronics industry, luxury hotels, and golf courses. Some online users speculated that the family might be linked to the Yeangder Group (仰德集團), which owns McDonald's Taiwan, and noted the shared surname with the current chairman.
In response, McDonald's Taiwan firmly clarified that these online claims are false, emphasizing that the supervisor has no connection to Chairman Hubert Lee (李昌霖) and is not even a distant relative. The company reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for illegal activities such as sexual assault and confirmed that it had terminated the involved employee and is fully cooperating with law enforcement.
Meanwhile, some online users tried to contact McDonald's customer service in the U.S. for justice. The response apologized but stated that McDonald's lacks international offices and directed them to contact the Taiwan office.
>>> If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1995 to reach the Suicide Prevention Line. You can also call the Peace of Mind Line, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW ), at 1925, or the Teacher Chang Foundation at 1980 for additional resources.
