Kids of Late Barbie Hsu Missed Her Memorial, Spotted With Dad In Guangzhou

When the two children of late Taiwanese star Barbie Hsu were absent from the unveiling of her memorial statue on her first death anniversary on February 2, speculation arose over whether they had deliberately skipped the ceremony.

Following Barbie’s sudden passing from influenza-related pneumonia, her daughter Wang Hsi Yueh, 11, and son Wang Hsi Lin, 10, have been living in Beijing with their dad Wang Xiaofei, 44, and his current wife, Taiwanese influencer Mandy Ma, 27.

The discussion intensified after photos surfaced online showing the kids in Guangzhou with Xiaofei on the same day as the memorial event.

Some photos showed Xiaofei inspecting outlets of his Ma Liu Ji restaurant chain with Mandy and Hsi Yueh, while others captured the family, including son Hsi Lin, out and about in the city.

The sightings quickly fuelled online speculation, with some netizens questioning whether the children were even aware of the memorial event.

Others drew comparisons to last year, when the children were also absent from Barbie’s burial, once again placing both families under public scrutiny.

Mandy, who is expecting her first child with Xiaofei, later addressed the speculation during a live stream, explaining that the children are currently spending their winter break in Beijing and were therefore unable to travel to Taiwan for the memorial.

She added that Xiaofei has been taking care of them during the school holidays, with assistance from their grandmother and a nanny, and stressed that they are well looked after.

She also dismissed suggestions that the children had been” left unattended,” saying that the family has made arrangements to ensure their daily needs are taken care of.

Mandy revealed that her own mother had travelled to Beijing to help care for the kids, adding that the family had also made plans to bring them on a short trip to Zhuhai during the holidays.

During a previous live stream, Mandy said Xiaofei’s mother, Zhang Lan, had brought Hsi Yueh to visit a new international school in Beijing, which is located close to their home.

According to Mandy, the girl enjoyed the visit and stayed for nearly two hours, with Zhang Lan later describing her granddaughter as well-behaved and sensible.

Zhang Lan also expressed hope that Hsi Yueh can stay long-term in Beijing in the future to keep her company.