Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, has found himself at the center of a high-profile murder investigation following the tragic death of Taiwanese influencer and former nurse Hsieh Yu-hsin in Kuala Lumpur. The 42-year-old artist, known for his provocative music and outspoken views, surrendered to authorities early on November 6, 2025, and is currently detained for six days to assist police with their inquiries into the case, according to multiple reports including The Straits Times, BBC, AP, South China Morning Post, and The Guardian.
The case has gripped Malaysia, Taiwan, and beyond, not only because of the fame of those involved but also due to the mystery and controversy swirling around the circumstances of Hsieh’s death. Hsieh, aged 31 and popularly known as the “Nurse Goddess,” was found dead in a bathtub at a Kuala Lumpur hotel on October 22, 2025. She was wrapped in a white towel and showed no signs of life when officers arrived. Nearby, police discovered nine blue pills suspected to be drugs and sexual stimulants, believed to be ecstasy, as reported by BBC and The Guardian.
According to police statements and local media, Namewee was the last person seen with Hsieh. She had traveled to Malaysia on October 20 for what was supposed to be a four-day stay, reportedly to discuss a commercial video project that Namewee had agreed to direct. Her social media manager, Chris, told BBC that Hsieh’s family, unable to travel due to severe disabilities, had hired legal representatives in Malaysia to follow up on the investigation on their behalf.
On the morning of October 22, at approximately 12:30 local time, Namewee contacted emergency services after finding Hsieh unresponsive in the bathroom. He later told police that he and Hsieh had engaged in sexual activity earlier that day, and that she had gone to the bathroom while he did not hear any running water. When he checked on her, she was unconscious. Emergency services, according to Namewee, took almost an hour to arrive after his call—a delay he criticized in a statement posted online, as reported by The Guardian.
Police arrested Namewee that same day after finding the blue pills in the hotel room. He denied using drugs but, according to police statements cited by BBC, he tested positive for several illicit substances, including amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC. He was initially charged with illegal drug possession and use and was released on bail after pleading not guilty.
The investigation took a dramatic turn when, after unspecified new evidence emerged, police reclassified Hsieh’s death from a “sudden death” to a murder case. On November 5, Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus told reporters that Namewee had "gone into hiding" after the reclassification. However, Namewee’s lawyer, Joshua Tay, stated that his client had voluntarily surrendered to police early on November 6, and would be held on remand for six days to assist with the investigation. Police have said they are awaiting full post-mortem and toxicology reports to determine the official cause of death, a process expected to take up to three months, according to The Guardian.
Throughout the ordeal, Namewee has maintained his innocence. In a series of Instagram posts, he pledged to "fully cooperate with the police to provide answers to the public and the bereaved family," adding, "I will not run. When I was wanted seven times in the past, I turned up on my own each time, never running away." He has also accused local media of sensationalism and "chasing shadows" with their coverage, and claimed that unnamed individuals had attempted to blackmail him. “I hope that the investigation will be carried out thoroughly and with the utmost objectivity and fairness,” his lawyer Tay told AP.
Meanwhile, the public’s attention has also focused on the backgrounds of both Namewee and Hsieh. Namewee is a household name in Malaysia, Taiwan, and China, famous for his satirical music videos and films that often address sensitive topics such as politics, race, and religion. His career has been punctuated by controversy: he was nearly charged with sedition in 2007 for a parody of Malaysia’s national anthem, arrested in 2016 for a music video deemed disrespectful to Islam, and banned from performing in Hong Kong in 2023. His 2021 song "Fragile," which poked fun at Chinese nationalists and touched on issues like Xinjiang and Taiwan sovereignty, led to his blacklisting in China. “Some people think that my work is controversial, or that I have always been crossing the red line,” he told BBC in 2021. “Sometimes I intend to do so… If I think more people should know about certain issues, I want more people to care.”
Hsieh, on the other hand, had carved out a substantial following as a social media influencer, amassing over half a million followers on Instagram and maintaining an OnlyFans account. She was known for posting photos in revealing outfits and was dubbed “Nurse Goddess” by her fans. Before her online fame, Hsieh graduated from Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology with a degree in nursing. She rose to internet stardom around 2019, released a personal photo album titled "Angel Heart," and had previously featured in a Namewee-directed music video for his song "China Reggaeton" in 2020.
On the same day that Namewee surrendered to authorities, a new song titled "Very Shuai" was released on Spotify. According to South China Morning Post, the track was an old demo recorded in 2014 and its release had been scheduled in advance, not as a deliberate move during his detention. The timing, however, only fueled further speculation in the public sphere.
As the investigation continues, police have not disclosed details about the new evidence that led to the murder reclassification. They have emphasized the need to await the results of the autopsy and toxicology reports before drawing any conclusions. Hsieh’s family, through her assistant, has asked for privacy and urged the public and media to refrain from excessive speculation and online commentary.
For now, the fate of Namewee remains uncertain, and the case continues to raise questions about fame, privacy, and the power of social media in shaping public perception. As the investigation unfolds, both fans and critics alike are left waiting for answers that may take months to arrive.
