Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who was best known for starring in the acclaimed 2001 television series Meteor Garden, has passed away from pneumonia at the age of 48, according to domestic media.
One of the most prominent celebrities in the Mandarin-speaking sphere, Hsu became a recognizable figure even in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand after Meteor Garden was translated into local dialects.
“I can’t believe it,” read one remark on Chinese social media platform Weibo, mirroring the emotions of millions of stunned admirers who have been honoring her memory.
She is thought to have become unwell while traveling in Japan. Her sister, Dee Hsu, verified her passing to Taiwan’s TVBS News on Monday.
“During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for a holiday. My dearest sister Barbie has tragically left us after contracting pneumonia, induced by influenza,” Dee Hsu stated in a message shared by her representative.
Hsu, who had a past history of epilepsy and cardiovascular disease, had been hospitalized previously due to convulsions.
She leaves behind her spouse, South Korean musician DJ Koo, and two kids from an earlier union.
She and her former husband, Chinese entrepreneur Wang Xiaofei, were wedded for a decade before a bitter separation in 2021.
Who was Barbie Hsu?
Hsu launched her career at 17 as part of a musical duo with her sister Dee. They gained recognition as television presenters, known for their energetic style and wit.
However, it was Meteor Garden, a television adaptation of a 1990s Japanese manga of the same title, that transformed Hsu into a household name, expanding her fame beyond Chinese entertainment.
In the show, Hsu portrayed Shancai, a teenager from a modest background who enrolls in an elite academy and finds herself caught in a romantic entanglement with the heirs of influential families.
Her four male co-stars in Meteor Garden later formed the Taiwanese boy band F4, one of the most successful Mandopop groups of the 2000s.
On Monday, F4 member Ken Chu shared a dark, blank screen as well as a group snapshot with Hsu on Instagram. Then on Weibo, he posted: “What a complete shock.”
Following Meteor Garden, Hsu appeared in more than a dozen television series and films, including beloved romantic dramas like Corner With Love and Summer’s Desire.
She stepped away from acting in 2012 but continued making appearances in reality programs.
Aya Liu, a presenter and close friend of the Hsu sisters, posted on Weibo that she had seen Hsu at a reunion last month, where they had pledged to meet more frequently.
“I never imagined that would be our final gathering,” Liu wrote. “Rest in peace, the most stunning queen.”
Hsu was the most discussed topic on Weibo on Monday. “She was merely 48 years old… this is too abrupt. This is somewhat hard to process,” read one remark.
Discussions about influenza in Japan were also trending as followers sought to comprehend how it happened.
Meteor Garden’s Influence
When Meteor Garden aired in the 2000s, during an era when Taiwanese dramas and music dominated regional pop culture, the contemporary, high-school twist on Cinderella became a phenomenon.
Young women drew fashion inspiration from Hsu’s Shancai and admired F4. The wavy hairstyles worn by the male leads were displayed in hair salons, as young men throughout Southeast and East Asia tried to imitate the look.
In the Philippines, a local broadcaster reportedly re-aired the entire series eight times to appease audience demand. Pirated copies of the show were also sold at street stalls.
Meteor Garden’s theme songs were released in different languages, quickly becoming chart-toppers on the radio and television.
More than two decades later, the series’ popularity remains strong, even as remakes have attracted new audiences. It has inspired versions in Japan, South Korea, China, and India.
On social media, tributes to Hsu have flooded in from all over the region, from Chinese netizens on Weibo to Southeast Asian supporters on X, to Meta’s Threads, which is particularly favored in Taiwan.
“Big S has always been a part of my childhood,” wrote one fan on Threads, referring to Hsu by her moniker.
A user on X posted: “Meteor Garden shaped an entire generation of Asians. Thank you, Barbie Hsu, for bringing Shancai to life.”
