Latest news with #Chu
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Why Ken Chu from F4 is selling products by Barbie Hsu's ex-husband Wang Xiaofei
Ken Chu (left) was criticised for selling Wang Xiaofei's products during his live-stream sales. Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei divorced in November 2021. Photos: Ken Chu/Douyin, Barbie Hsu/Weibo Taiwanese singer-actor Ken Chu has defended his decision to sell products made by the company of Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, the former husband of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Chu, 46, was a member of Taiwanese boy band F4, which also comprise Jerry Yan, 48; Vic Chou, 43; and Van Ness Wu, 46. The quartet reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 were brought together as a boy band in 2001 after acting in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), which also starred Hsu. The band members went their separate ways in 2009. Hsu, who died aged 48 in February, divorced Wang, 44, in November 2021 after 11 years of marriage. They have an 11-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. The former couple were then embroiled in a divorce battle and war of words on social media. Chu, who is now focusing on live-stream sales on Douyin, was criticised by netizens on July 16 after he continued to hawk hot and sour vermicelli from Chinese food brand Maliuji. This is a company under Wang and his mother Zhang Lan. 'Why can't I sell that?' Chu replied. 'To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei makes a lot of money. Otherwise, who will take care of his two children?' The artiste also mentioned Hsu, better known as Big S, in his live stream. 'She was the girl who was involved in the lives of the four of us,' he said, referring to the F4 members. 'I think all four of us loved her in our own way when we were younger.' Chu also disclosed that he was initially not keen on the F4 reunion on July 12, which was facilitated by Mayday's agency B'in Music. 'I asked their manager why they were so persistent on the reunion,' Chu said. 'She relayed (Mayday frontman) Ashin's words to me: 'Ashin feels that all the good things from the days when we were younger are slowly disappearing, and he wants to gather them back together, including F4.'' Chu admitted that it was not easy for him to return to the stage. 'I'm not as physically fit as I used to be,' he said. 'If you watch the video, you can see that I look a little older than the three of them.' Chu said that although he is 46, his physical condition is like that of a 60-year-old's. He suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that can lead to lasting muscle pain and fatigue. 'Compared with the three of them, I'll be more out of shape if we don't reunite this year or next year,' he said. 'So I'm working hard on it.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Why Ken Chu from F4 is selling products by Barbie Hsu's former husband Wang Xiaofei
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Ken Chu (left) was criticised for selling Wang Xiaofei's products during his live-stream sales. Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei divorced in November 2021. Taiwanese singer-actor Ken Chu has defended his decision to sell products made by the company of Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei, the former husband of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Chu, 46, was a member of Taiwanese boy band F4, which also comprise Jerry Yan, 48; Vic Chou, 43; and Van Ness Wu, 46. The quartet reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 were brought together as a boy band in 2001 after acting in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), which also starred Hsu. The band members went their separate ways in 2009. Hsu, who died aged 48 in February, divorced Mr Wang, 44, in November 2021 after 11 years of marriage. They have an 11-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. The former couple were then embroiled in a divorce battle and war of words on social media. Chu, who is now focusing on live-stream sales on Douyin, was criticised by netizens on July 16 after he continued to hawk hot and sour vermicelli from Chinese food brand Maliuji. This is a company under Mr Wang and his mother Zhang Lan. 'Why can't I sell that?' Chu replied. ' To be honest, I really hope Wang Xiaofei makes a lot of money. Otherwise, who will take care of his two children?' The artiste also mentioned Hsu, better known as Big S, in his live stream. 'She was the girl who was involved in the lives of the four of us,' he said, referring to the F4 members. 'I think all four of us loved her in our own way when we were younger.' Chu also disclosed that he was initially not keen on the F4 reunion on July 12, which was facilitated by Mayday's agency B'in Music. 'I asked their manager why they were so persistent on the reunion,' Chu said. 'She relayed (Mayday frontman) Ashin's words to me : 'Ashin feels that all the good things from the days when we were younger are slowly disappearing, and he wants to gather them back together, including F4 .'' Chu admitted that it was not easy for him to return to the stage. 'I'm not as physically fit as I used to be ,' he said. 'If you watch the video, you can see that I look a little older than the three of them.' Chu said that although he is 46, his physical condition is like that of a 60-year-old's. He suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that can lead to lasting muscle pain and fatigue. 'Compared with the three of them, I'll be more out of shape if we don't reunite this year or next year,' he said. 'So I'm working hard on it.'
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunite for surprise performance at Mayday concert
Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited at Mayday's Taipei concert on July 12. Photo: Ken Chu/Instagram Former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited for a surprise performance at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concert at the Taipei Dome on July 12. F4 – which made its debut in 2001 after the four members starred in Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001) – delivered its hit song Meteor Rain (2001) and Mayday's The Song Of Laughter And Forgetting (2008) as guest performer. The group sang both songs with Mayday, which was staging its last Taipei show as part of its Mayday #5525 Back To That Day Live Tour (2023 to present). F4 comprises Taiwanese-American Van Ness Wu, 46, and Taiwanese stars Jerry Yan, 48, Ken Chu, 46, and Vic Chou, 44. Chu was quick to share photographs of the band's reunion, taking to Instagram on July 12 to post pictures of them singing and hugging. Netizens took the reunion positively, with comments on his Instagram post such as 'Is this really true?' and 'Full F4 Asian concert next please'. During the concert, Mayday's lead vocalist Ashin said the reunion took two years to arrange, and that many people were involved in making it happen. As Chu addressed the crowd, he said it was his first time attending a Mayday show. He added that he could finally heave a sigh of relief, as he had to keep the reunion a secret by claiming he was not in contact with the other F4 members. The quartet, which disbanded in 2009, last came together in 2013 to sing at Jiangsu Television's Spring Festival Gala in China. According to Wu, the foursome had experienced feelings of jealousy and unfairness before their disbandment. He revealed this in an appearance with Yan on the Chinese chat show Welcome Back To Sound in 2022. Taiwan's Mirror Media reported on June 4 that F4 had reached an agreement and would reunite for a concert to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2026. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
See - Sada Elbalad
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Ariana Grande, Josh Gad to Lead "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Animated Movie
Yara Sameh Ariana Grande and Josh Gad will lend their voices to the film adaptation of 'Oh, The Places You'll Go.' Based on the Dr. Seuss classic, the animated musical will be directed by 'Wicked' filmmaker Jon M. Chu and Jill Culton. Warner Bros. will release the movie on March 17, 2028. Plot details haven't been revealed, so it's unclear how the film will take inspiration from the beloved picture book. 'Oh, The Places You'll Go!' revolves around a young adventurer navigating the ups and downs of life and offers inspirational messages to readers like, 'You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.' With those platitudes, the book has become a popular gift for graduates or anyone at an inflection point. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the duo behind 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'The Greatest Showman,' are writing original songs for the big-screen adaptation. Additional cast members — likely many of whom can also carry a tune — will be announced at a later date. This project reunites Chu with Grande, the star of 'Wicked: Part One.' She'll reprise her role as Glinda the Good, alongside Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba, in 'Wicked: For Good' on November 21. The Grammy winner and Oscar nominee was also recently cast in 'Meet the Parents 4' opposite Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. Gad is best known for voicing Olaf in the 'Frozen' franchise and originating the role of Elder Cunningham in Broadway's enduring hit 'The Book of Mormon.' He also played LeFou in Disney's live-action 'Beauty and the Beast' remake. Chu has previously teamed with Warner Bros. on 'Crazy Rich Asians' and 'In the Heights.' The director has attached his name to dozens of film projects at the moment, including a 'Hot Wheels' live-action adventure, a Play Doh animated feature, a Britney Spears biopic and another stage-to-screen musical in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream
New York Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NY scraps race-based STEM program after Asians claim discrimination
State education officials have scrapped New York's race-based admissions policy for advanced STEM classes for middle- and high-school students after a lawsuit by Asian parents, The Post has learned. The state-funded Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) admits 11,000 seventh- to 12th-grade students a year for classes at 56 participating colleges and medical schools statewide, with a related College Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). The pre-college enrichment program aims to 'increase the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students prepared to enter college and improve their participation rate' in math, science, tech and health fields, according to its website. Advertisement 3 Yiatin Chu, a co-founder of the Asian Wave alliance, praised the decision by New York state education officials to scrap a race-based admissions policy for advanced STEM classes. James Messerschmidt But while black, Hispanic and Native American students could apply regardless of family wealth, Asian and white schoolkids needed to meet certain income criteria — indicating they are economically challenged — or be excluded. A federal lawsuit filed in January accused New York of engaging in blatant discrimination against Asian and white students under the program. Advertisement 'Progress!' crowed Yiatin Chu — a co-founder of the Asian Wave alliance who said her daughter was one of the students discriminated against because of the race-based policy — to The Post. Chu said her then-seventh-grade daughter was 'able and ready' to apply for admission to the summer 2024 STEP program at New York University but couldn't 'because her race makes her ineligible. 'It was unfair and racist for my daughter to be subjected to a low-income requirement just because she is Asian when her black and Hispanic classmates weren't,' Chu said Sunday. 'I'm glad that my lawsuit instigated revisiting these decades long, race-based standards.' Another Asian parent said her daughter was enrolled in 11th grade abd had an overall grade-point average above 80 in math, science, and English but was 'unable to complete an application for admission' to CUNY's Baruch College 'because she was required to satisfy a family income threshold. Advertisement 3 Chu said her daughter wasn't able to apply for the summer 2024 STEP program because of her race. 'I instead paid thousands of dollars to enroll her in an alternative summer science program,' said the parent, who asked not to be identified. A top state education official, noting the still-pending litigation over the program, has already urged directors and administrators of STEP and CSTEP to stop using race or 'historically underrepresented minority status' to determine admissions and instead use only family income as admission criteria. 'As many of you are aware, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is currently engaged in active litigation concerning the eligibility criteria for participation in the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP),' wrote Anael Alston, the education department's assistant commissioner of the Office of Access, said in a July 8 memo to directors and administrators. Advertisement 'The litigation challenges certain aspects of our longstanding eligibility guidelines related to student race and ethnicity,' Alston said. 'While NYSED remains committed to defending the STEP and CSTEP programs and their historic mission to increase access and opportunity for historically underrepresented students in the scientific, technical, and health-related professions, we recognize the need to provide clarity and support to the field during this period of legal uncertainty.' The new guidance from Alston said 'effective immediately and until further notice, STEP and CSTEP grantees may determine student eligibility without regard to historically underrepresented minority status, race, or ethnicity.' 'Instead, grantees are encouraged to base eligibility decisions solely on indicators of economic disadvantage, in alignment with applicable state and federal guidelines,' Alston wrote. 'Recruitment, selection, and enrollment of new students may proceed using economic-based eligibility criteria only. Collection or use of race, ethnicity, or minority status data is not required for eligibility.' But Alston also appeared to defend the mandatory race-based admission policy she just eliminated. 'NYSED will continue to vigorously defend the mission and intent of STEP and CSTEP in court,' the official said. Advertisement The lawyers for the opposing Asian parents said state officials capitulated because they know the race-based policy is illegal. But the parents' reps complained that state officials still left wiggle room to continue discriminating against students by using words such as 'may' and 'encouraged.' 3 A federal lawsuit filed in January accused New York of engaging in blatant discrimination against Asian and white students under the program. Andrew Schwartz / 'The state of New York has raised the white flag of surrender in our lawsuit, but not high enough,' said William Jacobson, founder of Advertisement 'Word games are not acceptable,' Jacobson said. 'The state must do away with the racially discriminatory eligibility requirements completely and permanently, or we will ask the court to order it.' Erin Wilcox, a senior lawyer at Pacific Legal Foundation, said, 'The state should be requiring all schools to stop this illegal discrimination immediately, not giving them the option to continue.' In 1985, New York lawmakers passed legislation aimed at boosting interest in STEM and healthcare among low-income and underrepresented minority students. But racial-preference programs — aimed at correcting historic injustices or underrepresentation of blacks and other minorities — have come under the microscope after the US Supreme Court last year struck down college affirmative action programs aimed at boosting minority representation as discriminatory.
