Taiwan -Star Barbie HSU dies at 48

Taiwanese actress Barbie HSU has died of pneumonia after entering the flu while on a vacation in Japan, local media report. She was 48.

HSU is one of the biggest names in the Mandarin-speaking world and is best known for playing the lead role in the TV series Meteor Garden in 2001.

Meteor Garden was called in several languages ​​and made HSU a big star in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Her sister, Dee HSU, confirmed her death to Taiwan’s TVBS news on Monday.

“During Lunar New Year, or the family came to Japan for vacation. My boyfriend’s sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by a flu,” Dee HSU said in a statement shared by his manager.

“I am grateful to be her sister in this lifetime, take care of each other … I will always be grateful to her and remember her.”

HSU started his career in the 17 -year -old show business as part of a pop duo with his sister, Dee. The couple continued to become popular hosts, known for their animated style and sense of humor.

Rumors of HSU’s death had been circulated since Sunday after a popular Facebook account released a cryptic post in which he claimed a 48-year-old Taiwanese celebrity had died.

Confirmation of her death on Monday sent shock waves among fans and triggered an outflow of sympathy and compassion on social media.

HSU was the top trend topic on Weibo on Monday morning. “I can’t believe it,” reads a comment – repeating hundreds of similar feelings circulating on Chinese social media.

“She is only 48 years old … this is for suddenly,” reads another Weibo comment. “This is a little difficult to accept.”

Also trending on Weibo are posts about the flu in Japan.

HSU has a history of epilepsy and heart disease. She had been admitted to the hospital on previous occasions after experiencing seizures.

In Meteor Garden, HSU SHANCAI, a poor student from a middle -class family who attends an elite private school and finds himself tangled in a love web among the heirs of wealthy families, played by members of the Taiwanese boys band F4.

Meteor Garden is based on a Japanese manga series from the 1990s with the same name.

The show has continued to attract fans throughout the region. After the huge success of the 2001 series, versions of the story have also been produced in Japan, South Korea, China and India.

Her Meteor Garden-Co-Star, Ken Chu, posted an empty black photo on Instagram as well as a group photo with HSU. “What a shock,” he wrote at Weibo.