Malaysian rapper Namewee has been taken into custody as part of a murder investigation into the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, who was discovered deceased in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur. The case, initially treated as a sudden death, was upgraded to murder after new evidence emerged, leading to Namewee’s detention after he turned himself in to authorities.
Iris Hsieh, a 31-year-old social media personality with over half a million Instagram followers and an OnlyFans account, was found unresponsive in her hotel room on October 22. Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, contacted emergency services after discovering her body. Police responded to the scene and arrested Namewee the same day, finding nine blue pills suspected to be ecstasy in the room. Despite his denials, subsequent drug tests indicated the presence of amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC in his system.
Namewee was initially charged with drug use and possession, for which he pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. However, on November 5, Malaysian police reclassified Hsieh’s death as murder based on unspecified new evidence, prompting a search for Namewee. He voluntarily surrendered early that morning and has been remanded in custody for six days to assist with the investigation. His lawyer, Joshua Tay, stated that Namewee is cooperating fully and hopes for a thorough and fair inquiry.
The rapper, 42, has a history of controversy in his career, often using satire to address political and social issues in Malaysia. He first gained notoriety in 2007 with a viral remake of the national anthem that mocked the government, leading to potential sedition charges. In 2016, he was arrested for a music video filmed at various places of worship, which authorities deemed disrespectful to Islam. Namewee has defended his work as promoting tolerance and highlighting hypocrisy.
Hsieh, known online as the “Nurse Goddess” due to her nursing background, rose to fame around 2019 and released a personal photo album titled “Angel Heart” in 2020. She had multiple Instagram accounts suspended for adult content before maintaining her current profile with 545,000 followers. Her social media manager, Chris, revealed that her family, who have severe disabilities, are unable to travel to Malaysia and have hired legal representatives to handle the case on their behalf.
The investigation is ongoing, with police awaiting complete post-mortem and toxicology reports to determine the official cause of Hsieh’s death. Namewee has publicly expressed sadness over her passing but maintains his innocence, accusing local media of sensationalism. In an Instagram post after his surrender, he vowed not to run away and to provide answers to the public and Hsieh’s family.
This case has attracted significant media attention across Asia, given Namewee’s popularity as a rapper with millions of YouTube subscribers and a strong following in Taiwan and China. His past conflicts with authorities, including bans in China for songs touching on sensitive topics like Taiwan sovereignty, add layers to the story. The outcome of the investigation could have implications for his career and highlight issues of celebrity and justice in the region.