Iris Hsieh, a 31-year-old Taiwanese social media influencer, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 22. Initially classified as a sudden death, Malaysian authorities have since launched a murder investigation into the incident.
Hsieh, who had a following of over 547,000 on Instagram, was known for her daring stunts and provocative content. She was reportedly in the company of local rapper Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, at the time of her death.
Chee, 42, was arrested on the day of Hsieh’s death on charges of alleged drug possession and use. He was found in possession of ecstasy pills and later tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC. Despite these charges, Chee was released on bail on October 24 after pleading not guilty.
In a statement on Instagram, Chee denied using any drugs and expressed his sorrow over Hsieh’s death. He stated that the truth would be revealed once the police report was released. As of now, the police have not named Chee as a suspect in Hsieh’s death.
The investigation into Hsieh’s death is ongoing, with authorities collecting surveillance footage and statements from hotel staff to piece together her final movements. Officer Datuk Fadil Marsus stated that they are re-examining all the victim’s movements and those of the identified suspect, with an arrest expected soon.
Hsieh’s cause of death, including toxicology results, is still pending. She gained notoriety last year for a stunt in which she removed her red thong in an Ikea store in Taipei City, Taiwan, and used it to tie her hair into a loose ponytail. Her social media accounts were frequently filled with bikini-clad photos and other provocative content.