'Meteor Garden' stars Jerry Yan, Ken Chu react to Barbie Hsu's passing
Barbie Hsu’s Meteor Garden co-stars paid tribute to the late actress on social media.
Jerry Yan, the Dao Ming Si to Barbie Hsu’s Shancai, shared a poetic, heartfelt message on Weibo on Feb. 3 following Barbie's passing due to influenza-induced pneumonia.
The post translates to: “Thank you for meeting you. In your carefree childlike years. You often say that every day is the last day. Live to the fullest. I hope you walk slowly this time. From then on, in another world, there is no trouble, and the years are quiet.”
Meanwhile, Ken Chu, who played Xi Men, remembered Barbie through Instagram stories. He posted a solid black photo and reposted a photo of the Meteor Garden cast.
Rainie Yang, who played Shancai’s best friend Xiao You, also posted on Instagram: “Thank you, Xiyuan. I miss you and love you forever.” Xiyuan is Barbie’s Chinese name.
Meteor Garden is a 2001 Taiwanese Drama starring Barbie, Jerry, Ken, Vic Chou, and Vanness Wu. The show became a global phenomenon and brought Barbie a nomination for Best Leading Actress in a TV Series at the 36th Golden Bell Award.
Barbie started her career in 1994 as a singer alongside her sister Dee in a pop duo called S.O.S. and released 10 Minutes of Love. They were later renamed ASOS. The sisters also ventured into hosting TV shows such as Guess, 100% Entertainment, Gourmet Secrets of the Stars, and Let’s Dance.
She rose to fame in Meteor Garden, starring alongside the boy group F4 comprising Jerry, Vanness Wu, Ken, and Vic Chou.
After her breakout role as Shancai, Barbie went on to star in Eternity: A Chinese Ghost Story; Say Yes Enterprise which was nominated for the 39th Golden Bell Awards for Most Popular Television Series and the 40th for Best Television Series; Mars, which she stared alongside Meteor Garden co-star Vic Chou; Phantom Lover, Corner With Love, and Summer’s Desire.
Barbie married Chinese entrepreneur Wang Xiaofei in 2011 and had two children. She began hosting variety shows including Kangsi Coming during this time. The couple later divorced in 2021.
In 2022, the actress found love and married an old flame, DJ Koo Jun Yup who she dated from 1998 to 2000.
