Latest news with #Chinese-Canadian
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Why is she smiling?' Former EXO idol Kris Wu's accuser Du Meizhu draws backlash for 'gleeful' tone while recalling sexual assault
Content warning: This article contains discussions of sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised. The name Kris Wu once echoed through stadiums and fan hearts, however, now, when one talks about the former EXO idol, it leaves a bad taste to the mouth. The singer is currently sitting behind bars, serving a 13-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2022 for multiple sexual offenses, including rape. His downfall began in 2021 when Chinese influencer Du Meizhu, then just 17, publicly accused the Chinese-Canadian singer of date-raping her. Her brave revelation sent shockwaves through the C-pop and K-pop communities - and sparked a flood of similar allegations from more than 20 other women, eventually leading to Wu's arrest and conviction. Du Meizhu recalls the incident with Kris Wu Now, years later, Du Meizhu has returned to the public eye, and her latest appearance has ignited a new wave of controversy. In an interview on an online talk show, the now 23-year-old influencer gave a chilling, detailed account of the night she claims changed her life forever. She recounted playing cards with Kris Wu and a group of acquaintances, where alcohol flowed freely. "Kris was very nice about it and even offered to help me drink," she recalled. "He came across as a kind, older guy - very gentlemanly." But as she became more intoxicated, things took a dark turn. Meizhu said Kris' female manager led her to a room to rest. She remembered a man lying beside her, whispering, "Baby, I really like you," before kissing her and walking away. She believes she was later taken to another location - where the alleged assault took place. "When I woke up, we were in bed together. I was dizzy, confused. It had never happened to me before. I wanted to leave, but he held me back," she said Kris tried to calm her down and proposed they become a couple, promising to take responsibility. "I felt like I could only pick the second option," she said, referring to accepting the relationship rather than confronting the trauma. Netizens unhappy with Du Meizhu's confession about Kris Wu However, what was meant to be a vulnerable confession has sparked fierce debate - not over the sexual assault, but her demeanour. Many viewers were taken aback by her tone, calling out her "smiling" and "gleeful" expressions during the segment. "Why is she smiling?" one Weibo user asked bluntly. Another added, "She doesn't come off like the victim. She sounds almost excited." Some even questioned her motives and timing: "Why bring this up again four years later?" It's not the first time Meizhu's credibility has come under fire. Her former boss once accused her of exploiting a male model, calling her "not a good person." Even her former best friend sided with Kris Wu, alleging that Meizhu had once bragged about dating the idol and planned to use the scandal for financial gain. However, there were also many who rallied behind her, slamming the backlash as classic victim-shaming. "So now victims aren't allowed to smile? Do we want them to cry on cue?" one user wrote. Another said, "This reaction just proves how little society understands trauma." As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the Kris Wu saga continues to haunt the entertainment world - not just for what happened, but for how the world chooses to respond. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Toronto Star
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
BURNABY - A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby, B.C., for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. The city says in a news release that the decision was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, says discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The city says the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' It noted that more than one-third of Burnaby's current residents are of Chinese descent, including new immigrants as well as fourth- or fifth-generation Chinese Canadians who have deep roots there. The city has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. The Prime Minister of Canada formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for the Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Burnaby's news release says that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese-Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
BURNABY – A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby, B.C., for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. The city says in a news release that the decision was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, says discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. The city says the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' It noted that more than one-third of Burnaby's current residents are of Chinese descent, including new immigrants as well as fourth- or fifth-generation Chinese Canadians who have deep roots there. The city has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. The Prime Minister of Canada formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for the Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. Burnaby's news release says that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese-Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA: Sam Gor syndicate behind P7B worth of shabu found in PH waters
An international crime syndicate called the Sam Gor is behind the sacks containing over P7 billion worth of shabu recovered from Philippine waters recently, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Tuesday. "Sam Gor is a five-drug triad alliance namely: the 14K, Bamboo Union, Big Circle Gang, Sun Yeen On, and Wo Shing Wo, whose leaders are based in Hong Kong and Taiwan,' PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said in a statement. 'Their members simply called it 'The Company,'' he added. As of Monday, the PDEA said 56 local fishermen have surrendered a total of 1,038 kilos of suspected shabu worth P7,058,400,000 in 40 turnover incidents to authorities. This is one of the country's largest maritime seizures of illegal drugs in recent years, according to the PDEA. The sacks of shabu were found in the coastal areas of Dacap Sur, Bani; Boboy and Macaboboni, Agno; and Luciente I, Balingasay, Concordia and Poblacion, Bolinao—all located in the province of Pangasinan Some were found in Barangay Mantanas and Dili in Sta Cruz, Ilocos Sur. Floating shabu was also found off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales. 'Based on the packaging of shabu packs recovered in Philippine shores, they were contained in teabags with Chinese markings - a signature trademark associated with Sam Gor,' Nerez said. "Sam Gor gained notoriety by engaging in all sorts of unconventional methods of drug smuggling, including the use of the high seas. They dump their illicit goods to be retrieved later by contact local cohorts. It's a good thing that our hero fishermen got there first before the drugs fell into the wrong hands,' he added. Citing reports, the PDEA said Sam Gor operates in various countries across the Asia-Pacific Region, including the Philippines. 'It is largely involved in trafficking methamphetamine, and is believed to have an estimated 40 to 70 percent control of the drug market in the region, raking up profits up to more than $17 billion in revenue a year,' the PDEA said. 'Aside from shabu, the syndicate also funnels big proportions of heroin, ketamine, other synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals,' it added. The PDEA said Sam Gor is named after the nickname of its suspected founder/leader, 'Tse Chi Lop', a Chinese-Canadian who was arrested four years ago in the Netherlands. He was eventually extradited to Australia in December 2022 to face drug trafficking charges. According to the PDEA, he is considered Asia's 'El Chapo', a reference to Joaquin Guzman, a former Mexican drug lord who became one of the world's most powerful traffickers of narcotics. —RF, GMA Integrated News
Winnipeg Free Press
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Influencer culture pilloried in prose
Part mystery, part satire and even part horror, second-generation Chinese-Canadian writer Liann Zhang's debut novel is a bizarre but entertaining look at the world of social media influencer culture. Julie Chan is a supermarket cashier with no friends who steals food from work to keep herself fed. One day, she receives a disturbing phone call from her estranged twin sister, Chloe, a rich influencer with followers in the millions. Sensing something is wrong, Julie travels to Chloe's New York City penthouse and finds her sister dead on the floor. As she's about to report the death to the police, Julie quickly makes the rash decision to switch places, ditching her sad, anonymous life for her twin's more comfortable and glamorous one. Julie Chan is Dead With unwitting help from Chloe's manager, Julie seamlessly continues her sister's social media life, interacting with fans, receiving lavish gifts and going to trendy parties. At first, no one in Chloe's world suspects the truth, and everyone writes off any strange behaviour as her just being '#sad' and '#grieving.' But it doesn't take long for her aunt and cousin to figure out what's going on, and Julie soon finds herself being blackmailed. In order to pay off her scheming family members, she becomes a lot more obvious with paid endorsements on her channels, while watching her numbers drop on each platform. Thankfully, Julie has her new influencer friends to cheer her up. A group of mostly indistinguishable twentysomething white women, the Belladonnas are led by Bella Marie, whose level of fame and wealth seems almost unattainable for a social media personality. But, of course, Julie soon learns her new friends may be hiding some sinister secrets. Toronto- and Vancouver-based Zhang was only 16 when she had her own brush with internet fame, gaining over 20,000 followers on a skincare-themed Instagram account. The author, who now has a degree in psychology and criminology, says this book was inspired by the fellow influencers she met through group chats. Clearly she has some strong, negative feelings from this experience, as most characters are quite unlikable — even Julie, who quickly embraces her new personality. Zhang takes some fun shots at influencer culture, and that cynical humour drives the first half of the novel. But it does get dragged down by some very predictable turns. Then a huge twist comes that makes the second half seem like a different book altogether. It quickly delves into cult-horror territory — think Rosemary's Baby or The Wicker Man but with trite self-help affirmations and beauty tips. The shift may be a bit jarring for some readers, but Zhang's cutting humour is amped up, along with the overall pace, which all leads to a ridiculous, over-the-top finale. While it has some flaws, Julie Chan is Dead is a fun, memorable debut. Hardly an influencer, Alan MacKenzie is struggling to find 600 subscribers for his YouTube channel.
