Barbie Hsu’s ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei, made a poignant appearance in Taiwan shortly after her tragic news broke, initially bowing to the media before emotionally kneeling in the rain in the Xinyi District.

Reactions from netizens have been mixed; some believe he is genuinely mourning, while others accuse him of putting on a performance.

Recently, images surfaced showing Wang kneeling in the rain, which further fuelled the debate. A journalist from a Taiwanese media outlet claimed that prior to the release of the rain-soaked footage, Wang’s chauffeur had already taken him home, suggesting that the display was staged. The journalist asserted, “Regardless, he is simply acting.”

Wang reportedly flew to Taiwan on 4th February upon hearing of Barbie’s death, braving the cold and standing in the rain for nearly half an hour, dressed only in a T-shirt. While some viewers found his actions heartfelt, others deemed them insincere. Eyewitnesses at the scene echoed the sentiment that his display appeared contrived.

The journalist also noted that before the rain footage was released, Wang’s vehicle had navigated through a back alley to avoid the press. This led to speculation about whether he had orchestrated the moment for publicity. Additionally, Wang’s mother, Zhang Lan, has been actively live-streaming, prompting criticism online, with users questioning if the family is merely seeking attention.

Despite the backlash, some netizens speculated that if Wang had been by Barbie’s side, the outcome might have been different, while others alleged that there are coordinated efforts online to promote a narrative about their love story, questioning the authenticity of Wang’s public displays of grief.