A popular Malaysian rapper and filmmaker, known as Namewee, has surrendered to police in Kuala Lumpur to assist with the investigation into the death of Taiwanese social media influencer Hsieh Yu-hsin.
Hsieh, 31, who captivated over half a million followers on Instagram and maintained a presence on OnlyFans, was discovered lifeless in a hotel bathtub on October 22nd. The case has now been reclassified as a murder investigation following the emergence of new evidence.
Authorities have stated that Namewee was the last known person to be with Hsieh before her death. He was previously briefly detained and faces separate charges related to drug possession and use, allegations he firmly denies.
Known affectionately as “Nurse Goddess” by her devoted fans, Hsieh arrived in Malaysia on October 20th for a planned four-day visit. The full post-mortem and toxicology reports are currently awaited to determine the official cause of death.
Namewee, 42, expressed profound sadness over Hsieh’s passing, while maintaining his innocence. He publicly vowed full cooperation with the investigation, seeking to provide clarity for both the public and Hsieh’s family.
His lawyer emphasized the need for a thorough and impartial investigation, ensuring fairness throughout the process. The rapper is now in police custody for a six-day remand period.
Namewee is no stranger to controversy, having faced repeated scrutiny and arrests throughout his career. His provocative art often tackles sensitive subjects like politics, race, and religion through satire.
Early in his career, a 2007 video mocking Malaysia’s national anthem and containing racial slurs drew sharp criticism. Later, in 2014, one of his films was banned for its perceived negative portrayal of national agencies.
In 2016, a music video titled “Oh My God,” filmed at various places of worship and using the word “Allah,” sparked outrage from Islamic activists. Namewee defended the video as a plea for religious tolerance and was ultimately not charged.
Further controversy erupted in 2018 over a music video featuring dancers in dog masks, deemed “obscene” and insulting to Islam by authorities, given the Islamic view of dogs as unclean. Namewee insisted his work targeted hypocrisy and abuse of power.
His outspokenness has also drawn the ire of Chinese authorities. A 2021 song with Australian singer Kimberley Chen, which satirized Chinese nationalism and touched on Taiwan’s sovereignty, led to both artists being banned from entering China and their song being removed from all Chinese platforms.
