Malaysian Rapper Namewee Detained in Connection with Influencer’s Death
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysian rapper Wee Meng Chee, known professionally as Namewee, is being held by police in connection with the death of Taiwanese influencer Cheng Yi-Hsieh, whose body was discovered in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Police have classified the case as murder and are questioning Namewee, who was with Cheng at the time of her death, according to reports.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Namewee’s controversial past and Cheng’s substantial social media following. The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of online personalities and the potential for exploitation within the influencer industry. Authorities are seeking to determine the circumstances surrounding Cheng’s death and whether foul play was involved, with the investigation expected to continue in the coming days.
Cheng, 30, was found dead at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday morning.Initial reports indicated police were treating the case as a sudden death, but a subsequent investigation led to the reclassification as murder. Namewee, 40, was detained and is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
Namewee is a well-known figure in the Mandarin music scene, despite facing frequent controversy. He was blacklisted by beijing in 2021 after releasing a song satirizing Chinese nationalists, which garnered over 30 million views on YouTube.prior to this, he faced backlash in Malaysia for a 2007 parody of the national anthem, “Negarakuku,” and was detained in 2016 and 2018 for allegedly insulting Islam through music videos.
Cheng Yi-Hsieh, known online as Iris, had over half a million followers on Instagram. Reports indicate she had four other social media accounts suspended for “adult sexual solicitation.” Her social media manager, identified only as Chris, told the BBC that her family was unable to travel to malaysia to follow up on the case due to “severe disabilities.”
Police have not released further details about the investigation, including the cause of death. The case is ongoing, and Namewee remains in custody as authorities gather evidence and conduct interviews.
