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'Meteor Garden' star Barbie Hsu dies from pneumonia, 48

Entertainment | Celebrities

'Meteor Garden' star Barbie Hsu dies from pneumonia, 48

By Robert Requintina

At A Glance

Barbie's sister said the actress died after she contracted influenza during the New Year Lunar holiday.

Barbie Hsu (CNA file photo via focustaiwan.tw)

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, star of the hit Taiwanese television series "Meteor Garden, has died from pneumonia. She was 48.

Barbie Hsu is survived by her South Korean husband - singer and DJ Koo Jun-yup - as well as her 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, whom she shares with ex-husband and Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei (汪小菲), according to a report by focustaiwan.tw.

Talk show hostess Dee Hsu (徐熙娣) said her sister Barbie died after she contracted influenza during the New Year Lunar holiday.

"Our whole family came to Japan for a trip, and my dearest and most kindhearted sister Barbie Hsu died of influenza-induced pneumonia and unfortunately left us," said Dee through her agent.

"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!"

In a separate report, following this announcement, various online rumours circulated about the circumstances of Barbie’s passing, with some claiming she succumbed to multiple health issues stemming from a cold, exacerbated by underlying conditions.

Speculation about Wang, Barbie's ex-husband, also surfaced but remains unverified, according to dimsumdaily.hk

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