TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) on Tuesday (Feb. 4) urged the public to cease commenting on the late actress Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛), emphasizing the need to afford the deceased their final respect.
Hsu, who passed away at 48 due to pneumonia complications from the flu while traveling in Japan, has sparked widespread discussion. The timing of Hsu's death, coinciding with a wave of recalls in the Legislative Yuan (立法院), led some to speculate that it overshadowed related news.
Wu, on Facebook, stated that no stance should supersede humanity, likening the pain of losing a loved one to being cut by a sharp blade. She described Hsu as a brave woman who faced public scrutiny with grace and courage, deserving of respect.
Wu's call for compassion comes from personal experience, as her partner, Taipei City Councilor Hsu Chia-pei (許家蓓), passed away from cancer last September. Wu revealed their relationship posthumously and discussed the challenges of public figures coming out in a BBC Chinese interview. Wu stressed that amidst life's fragility, political turmoil pales in comparison, urging the public to extend their deepest blessings to the bereaved family.
