Malaysian rapper Namewee has been remanded in custody in connection with the death of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, 31, who was found dead in a Kuala Lumpur hotel bathtub two weeks ago.
Police say Namewee, 42, was the last person seen with Hsieh, who had travelled to Malaysia to discuss a commercial video project he had agreed to direct. Authorities have since reclassified her death from “sudden death” to murder, prompting his renewed detention.
Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, surrendered to police early Wednesday and is now on a six-day remand. He continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Drug Charges and Re-Arrest
The rapper was previously charged with illegal drug use and possession after officers found nine blue pills believed to be ecstasy in his hotel room. Although he denied taking drugs, police say he tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC.
He pleaded not guilty on Monday and was released on bail. However, once the case was reclassified as a homicide investigation, police took him back into custody.
The case has taken several unexpected turns. Malaysian media reported that Namewee called emergency services at 12:30 local time on 22 October after discovering Hsieh unresponsive in the bathroom.
On Tuesday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus told reporters that Namewee had “gone into hiding” following the reclassification of the case. Investigators are still awaiting post-mortem and toxicology results to determine Hsieh’s cause of death.
In an Instagram video posted early Wednesday, Namewee said he had arrived at the station to “fully co-operate” with the investigation. “I won’t run away,” he said.
Who Is Namewee?
Namewee is widely known for his satirical, often provocative music and his long history of run-ins with Malaysian authorities. He first rose to prominence in 2007 with a controversial parody of Malaysia’s national anthem, Negaraku, which mocked the government. The video went viral and nearly led to sedition charges before he apologised and removed it.
Over the years, he has remained a lightning rod for controversy:
2016: Arrested over the song Oh My God for allegedly insulting Islam; detained for four days.
2021: Released the track Fragile, which mocked China’s “little pinks”—nationalist internet users—and touched on sensitive political issues, leading to a ban in China.
Despite frequent clashes with authorities, Namewee has built a strong following across Mandarin-speaking audiences and has collaborated with well-known artists. He has been nominated three times for Best Mandarin Male Singer at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards. His film work—both acting and directing—has also sparked debate for its treatment of race and religion.
Who Was Iris Hsieh?
Although not as internationally recognised as Namewee, Hsieh was a prominent social media figure known for glamorous, often revealing photos. Nicknamed the “nurse goddess,” she held a nursing degree from the Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
Hsieh rose to online fame around 2019 and later released a photo collection titled Angel Heart. She had about 545,000 Instagram followers across five accounts—the previous four reportedly suspended for “adult sexual solicitation”—and also operated an OnlyFans page.
Her social media manager, identifying himself only as Chris, told the BBC that Hsieh’s family could not travel to Malaysia due to “severe disabilities” and had appointed legal representatives to act on their behalf.
