What happened to Barbie Hsu? What we know as Taiwanese star’s husband mourns sudden passing 

Barbie Hsu, the Taiwanese actress known for her breakout role as the romantic lead in the 2001 TV drama Meteor Garden, has passed away at the age of 48 due to complications from influenza.

Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed the news on Monday, revealing that Barbie died while on a family vacation in Japan. The news quickly became the top trending topic on China's Weibo platform. Barbie Hsu was widely recognized by her nickname 'Big S.' A statement by Dee Hsu, Barbie Hsu's sister, originally in Chinese, was reported by the Taiwanese news outlet Star ETtoday. She said:

"Thanks for all the concern. Over the Chinese New Year period, our entire family travelled to Japan for a holiday. My dearest and most kindhearted sister Barbie Hsu died of influenza-induced pneumonia and unfortunately left us..."

Speaking of her bond with Barbie Hsu, she continued:

"I was grateful to be her sister in this life and that we got to care for and spend time with each other. I will always be grateful to her and miss her!"

The exact date of Barbie Hsu's passing has still not been revealed. In January, Barbie attended the wedding of Taiwanese TV producer Wang Wei-chung’s daughter. She was also featured in a New Year's post shared by her South Korean husband, Koo Jun-yup (DJ Koo), on December 31, alongside the rest of her family.

The post is now flooded with comments and condolence messages by fans, remembering Barbie Hsu. Some of the comments are as follows:

"Rest in peace. I'm so sad"

"I’m so sorry for your loss.. deepest condolences"

"My Barbie @hsushiyuan We will miss yOu🥹 You are my chiLdhood 🤍 Meteor Garden avid Fan here.. Glad you fOund your Heart’s Happiness🙏🏻 Your True Love.. Reunion of Meteor Garden will nOt be pOssibLe anyMore😭💔 May your souL Rest in Peace Love🙏🏻"

"Sorry for your loss. We will miss Barbie"

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Barbie Hsu's husband mourns her loss

Barbie Hsu's career began in 1994 as part of the pop duo S.O.S. She gained widespread fame with her role in the 2001 hit drama Meteor Garden, followed by appearances in other popular TV shows like Mars, Corner with Love, and Summer's Desire. She retired from acting in 2011 after marrying her first husband, Wang Xiaofei, but still occasionally made appearances in advertisements and various shows.

Barbie Hsu leaves behind two young children—a 10-year-old daughter, and an 8-year-old son, whom she shared with Xiaofei, whom she divorced in 2021. Three months after her divorce from Wang Xiaofei, Barbie rekindled her romance with Koo Jun Yup, widely recognized as DJ Koo. The two married three months after her separation, living together as a family with Barbie’s children until her untimely death.

Her relationship with her husband DJ Koo was highly publicized in the late 1990s, though they parted ways in 2000 due to the constraints of the entertainment industry, which prohibited K-pop idols from dating. DJ Koo kept their relationship private for many years, likely due to these restrictions.

DJ Koo, struggled to hold back his emotions when asked to comment on the passing of his beloved wife. Confirming the heartbreaking news, he reportedly stated:

"It is not fake news."

In a phone conversation with Korean media outlet Ilgnan Sports, he expressed that he was still struggling to come to terms with the loss. With great sadness, the grieving husband admitted:

"I am not okay."

Barbie Hsu's ex-husband, Chinese entrepreneur, Wang Xiaofei, has shown signs of mourning following her passing, changing his social media profile pictures to solid black, possibly symbolizing his grief, reported GMA Network.