Hong Kong Stars Distance Themselves From Malaysian Rapper Namewee After Photo Backlash

Hong Kong actors Eric Tsang and Kenny Bee have publicly distanced themselves from Malaysian rapper-actor Namewee after a group photo of the trio sparked backlash on social media due to Namewee's critical stance on mainland Chinese authorities. The photo was taken during the Wow! Super! Happy 30 Years concert in Malaysia, where Tsang and Bee were performing alongside other Hong Kong stars. Both Tsang and Bee issued apologies on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, emphasizing their patriotism and stating the photo was taken out of courtesy without prior knowledge of Namewee's controversial background. Namewee, known for his satirical and politically sensitive works such as the 2021 single "Fragile," which contains barbed references to Chinese President Xi Jinping and other topics, has been blacklisted in China. Following the controversy, Namewee removed the photo from his social media accounts, citing concerns for peace and safety in the region. Tsang and Bee made it clear that the incident was an unintentional mistake and does not reflect their support for Namewee's views.