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Meteor Garden: Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48 Meteor Garden: Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu dies at 48
(32 minutes later)
Meteor Garden was dubbed in several languages and made Hsu a big star in AsiaMeteor Garden was dubbed in several languages and made Hsu a big star in Asia
Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who shot to fame for starring in the TV series Meteor Garden, has died from pneumonia, local media report. She was 48. Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who was best-known for starring in the hit 2001 TV series Meteor Garden, has died from pneumonia at the age of 48, according to local media.
Hsu is one of the biggest names in the Mandarin-speaking world and Meteor Garden made her a big star in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand after it was dubbed in local languages. One of the biggest stars in the Mandarin-speaking world, Hsu became a familiar face even in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand after Meteor Garden was dubbed in local languages.
News of her death triggered an outpouring of grief on social media where fans expressed their shock and paid tribute to Hsu for her influence on pop culture. "I can't believe it," read one comment on Chinese social media platform Weibo, echoing the sentiments of millions of shocked fans who have been paying tribute.
Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed her death to Taiwan's TVBS News on Monday, after rumours of her death swirled the day before. She reportedly fell ill while on vacation in Japan. She is belived to have fallen ill while visiting Japan. Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed her death to Taiwan's TVBS News on Monday.
"During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by an influenza," Dee said in a statement shared by her manager. "During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza," Dee Hsu said in a statement shared by her manager.
Hsu started in show business at 17 as part of a pop duo with her sister Dee. They went on to become TV hosts, known for their animated style and sense of humour. Hsu began her career at 17, as part of a pop duo with her sister Dee. They became famous as TV hosts, known for their animated style and sense of humour.
But it was Meteor Garden, a TV adaptation of a 1990s Japanese comic book of the same name, that helped Hsu become a star outside the Mandarin-speaking world. But it was Meteor Garden, a TV adaptation of a 1990s Japanese comic of the same name, that turned Hsu into a star whose fame stretched beyond Chinese entertainment.
Hsu played Shancai, a poor student from a middle class family who attends an elite private school and finds herself entangled in a love web with the heirs of wealthy families. In the drama, Hsu played Shancai, a teen from a middle-class family who attends an elite private school and finds herself entangled in a love web with the heirs of wealthy families.
Her four male co-stars in Meteor Garden would later form the Taiwanese boyband F4, which became one of the most popular Mandopop groups of the 2000s. Her four male co-stars in Meteor Garden would later form the Taiwanese boyband F4, one of the most popular Mandopop groups of the 2000s.
On Monday, F4 member Ken Chu posted a blank black image on Instagram, as well as a group photo with Hsu. On Monday, F4 member Ken Chu shared a black, empty screen as well as a group photo with Hsu on Instagram. Then on Weibo, he wrote: "What a bolt from the blue."
"What a bolt from the blue," he wrote on Weibo. Hsu was the top trending topic on Weibo on Monday. "She is only 48 years old… this is too sudden," read a comment. "This is a little difficult to accept."
Posts about influenza in Japan were also trending as fans tried to understand how she had fallen sick.
Hsu and Vic Chou, her co-star in Meteor Garden, became extremely popular even among non-Mandarin-speaking populations in AsiaHsu and Vic Chou, her co-star in Meteor Garden, became extremely popular even among non-Mandarin-speaking populations in Asia
Meteor Garden captivated Asian audiences before video streaming. In the Philippines alone, a local broadcaster reportedly aired the entire series eight times to satisfy fan demand. Bootleg CD copies of the series were also sold on roadside stalls. Meteor Garden captivated Asian audiences in an age before streaming. In the Philippines alone, a local broadcaster reportedly aired the entire series eight times to satisfy fan demand. Bootleg copies of the series were also sold at roadside stalls.
Aside from the series itself, Meteor Garden's theme songs were also translated to local languages and became hits on radio and music video channels. Meteor Garden's theme songs were also released in other languages, quickly becoming hits on the radio and on TV.
Two decades since its debut, Meteor Garden's popularity has endured and remakes through the years have attracted new fans. Versions of the series have also been produced in Japan, South Korea, mainland China, and India. More than 20 years on, Meteor Garden's popularity has endured even as remakes attracted new fans. It has also inspired versions in Japan, South Korea, mainland China and India.
Hsu was the top trending topic on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Monday morning. Posts about influenza in Japan were also trending. Hsu, who had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, was hospitalised previously due to seizures.
"I can't believe it," read one comment - echoing hundreds of similar sentiments. She leaves behind her husband, South Korean singer DJ Koo, and two children from an earlier marriage.
"She is only 48 years old… this is too sudden," read another Weibo comment. "This is a little difficult to accept." She and her ex-husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, had an acrimonious split in 2021, after a 10 year-long marriage.
Hsu has a history of epilepsy and heart disease and had been hospitalised on previous occasions due to seizures. In 2022, she married Koo. The two had dated early in her career.
She leaves behind two children with her ex-husband, Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, with whom she had an acrimonious split in 2021, after 10 years together.
She married her current husband, South Korean musician DJ Koo, in 2022. They previously dated in the 1990s.