Barbie Hsu’s Ex-Husband and Mother-in-Law Banned from Social Media for Sucking Her Legacy Dry in Marketing Scandal

The Controversial Exploitation of Barbie Hsu’s Death: How Ex-Husband and Mother-in-Law Were Banned for Malicious Marketing

In a shocking turn of events, the tragic death of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu has become the center of a scandal involving her ex-husband, Wang Xiaofei, and his mother, Zhang Lan. The duo has been accused of exploiting Hsu’s passing for financial gain, leading to the indefinite suspension of their social media accounts on platforms like Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese counterpart) and Weibo in China. This incident has sparked widespread outrage, highlighting the dark side of influencer culture and the lengths some will go to for profit.

Barbie Hsu, a beloved actress and public figure, passed away on February 2, 2025, at the age of 48 due to complications from flu-induced pneumonia and sepsis. Her death sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with fans mourning the loss of a cultural icon. However, the tragedy quickly took a controversial turn when her ex-husband Wang Xiaofei and his mother Zhang Lan began leveraging her death for personal and financial gain.

Shortly after Hsu’s passing, rumors surfaced that Wang Xiaofei had chartered a private jet to transport her remains back to Taiwan. These claims were amplified by Zhang Lan, who allegedly endorsed and promoted the false narrative on her Douyin account. The story gained traction, with many praising Wang for his supposed act of devotion to Barbie Hsu, though long divorced. However, the narrative was soon debunked by Hsu’s family and the private jet company, Jetbay, which clarified that all arrangements were handled by Hsu’s sister, Dee Hsu, and her husband.

Despite the debunking, Zhang Lan continued to capitalize on the situation. On February 6, she hosted a live-streaming session on Douyin, where she emotionally recounted her struggles and framed herself as a victim. During the stream, she played an audio message from Wang Xiaofei, in which he angrily denied involvement in the private jet rumor. The live stream attracted over 930,000 viewers and generated significant sales for Zhang’s business, Ma Liu Ji, a popular convenient food brand.

However, the backlash was swift. Douyin and Weibo took action, banning Zhang Lan, Wang Xiaofei, and related accounts for “maliciously exploiting the deceased for commercial gain” and spreading false information. The platforms cited violations of community guidelines and a lack of corrective action despite prior warnings.

Hours later, Chinese social media platforms were flooded with comments supporting Wang and Zhang, leveraging patriotic sentiments and criticizing Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) for its market dominance. Popular comments included statements such as, "We cannot allow Douyin to destroy our proud Chinese role model husband, who has been relentlessly targeted by Taiwan," and "How dare Douyin? An antitrust investigation should be launched immediately."

According to our exclusive sources from leading marketing and PR firms, Wang and Zhang made significant investments in public relations efforts following the ban. Manipulated comments were primarily disseminated on Zhihu (often regarded as China's far-right-leaning equivalent of Quora) and Kuaishou (a direct competitor to Douyin, whose user base consists largely of lower-income individuals in China).

Wang and Zhang have publicly deemed the ban unjust. In response, they have swiftly shifted their promotional efforts to TikTok. This move has not gone unnoticed by the public, with some netizens sarcastically remarking, "They cannot seem to stop the drama for even a second—now, instead of targeting Chinese consumers, they are exploiting the global market."

Key Takeaways

Exploitation of Tragedy: Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei were accused of using Barbie Hsu’s death to boost their brand’s visibility and sales, crossing ethical boundaries.
Social Media Accountability: Douyin and Weibo’s decision to ban the accounts underscores the growing importance of platform accountability in curbing harmful content.
Impact on Ma Liu Ji: The scandal has raised concerns about the brand’s reliance on controversial marketing tactics and its vulnerability to reputational damage.
Public Outrage: The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for stricter regulations to prevent the exploitation of sensitive topics for profit.

Deep Analysis

The controversy surrounding Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei reveals the darker side of influencer marketing and the lengths some individuals will go to for financial gain. By leveraging Barbie Hsu’s death, they not only disrespected her memory but also manipulated public sentiment to drive sales for Ma Liu Ji.

This incident also highlights the precarious nature of building a brand around personal narratives. While Zhang Lan’s charismatic personality and Wang Xiaofei’s high-profile divorce from Hsu initially brought significant attention to Ma Liu Ji, their reliance on sensationalism has backfired. The brand’s association with unethical practices could alienate consumers and damage its long-term prospects.

Moreover, the swift action by Douyin and Weibo reflects a broader trend of social media platforms cracking down on harmful content. As public awareness of online exploitation grows, platforms are under increasing pressure to enforce stricter guidelines and protect users from manipulative practices.

Did You Know?

Ma Liu Ji’s Rapid Rise: Founded in 2020, Ma Liu Ji quickly gained popularity through aggressive online marketing, with Zhang Lan’s live streams playing a pivotal role in its success. At its peak, the brand’s monthly online sales exceeded $14 million.
Zhang Lan’s Past Controversies: This isn’t the first time Zhang Lan has been embroiled in scandal. She previously lost control of her high-end restaurant chain, South Beauty, after a failed IPO and a legal battle with investors.
Barbie Hsu’s Legacy: Beyond her acting career, Hsu was known for her advocacy work and her role as a cultural icon in Asia. Her untimely death has left a void in the entertainment industry.

Conclusion

The exploitation of Barbie Hsu’s death by Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing profit over ethics. While their tactics may have generated short-term gains, the long-term consequences for their brand and reputation are likely to be severe. As the public continues to demand greater accountability, this incident underscores the need for ethical marketing practices and the responsible use of social media platforms.

In the words of one netizen, “You can buy traffic, but you can’t buy a conscience.” This scandal is a stark reminder that, in the pursuit of success, integrity should never be sacrificed.

Appendix: The Long History of Exploitation of Barbie Hsu: How Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei Leveraged Drama for Profit

The tumultuous relationship between Barbie Hsu, her ex-husband Wang Xiaofei, and his mother Zhang Lan has been a recurring source of drama and controversy. Over the years, Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei have repeatedly used their personal conflicts with Hsu and her new husband, DJ Koo, to drive traffic and sales for their business ventures, particularly on Douyin (China’s TikTok). Here’s a detailed timeline of how they exploited these controversies for financial gain.

1. The Divorce and Initial Exploitation (2021-2022)

Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei divorced in November 2021 after 10 years of marriage. The split was far from amicable, with both parties airing their grievances publicly. Zhang Lan, Wang’s mother, quickly capitalized on the drama by hosting live streams on Douyin, where she criticized Hsu and her family.

Live Streams and Accusations: Zhang Lan accused Hsu of using Wang’s credit card to fund her new life with DJ Koo, claiming she spent millions on luxury items. These accusations, though later debunked, drew massive attention to her live streams, which were often accompanied by promotions for her food brand, Ma Liu Ji .
Sales Boost: During this period, Zhang Lan’s live streams saw a significant increase in viewership, with one session reportedly generating over $1.4 million in sales .

2. The “Drug Use” Allegations (November 2022)

In November 2022, Zhang Lan escalated the drama by accusing Hsu and her sister, Dee Hsu (Little S), of daily drug use. She shared alleged voice messages between herself and Hsu’s mother, further fueling the controversy.

Public Backlash and Rebuttal: Hsu denied the allegations, citing her poor health and legal compliance. Despite the backlash, Zhang Lan’s live streams continued to attract millions of viewers, with many tuning in for the drama rather than the products .
Financial Gains: The controversy coincided with a spike in sales for Ma Liu Ji, with Zhang Lan’s live streams reportedly generating over $2 million in revenue during this period .

3. The “Private Jet” Scandal (February 2025)

Following Barbie Hsu’s tragic death in February 2025, Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei were accused of exploiting her passing for financial gain. A Douyin account linked to Zhang Lan’s “godson,” Xia Xiaojian, claimed that Wang had chartered a private jet to transport Hsu’s remains. This claim was later debunked by Hsu’s family and the private jet company, Jetbay .

Live Stream Exploitation: Despite the debunking, Zhang Lan hosted a live stream on February 6, 2025, where she emotionally recounted her struggles and played an audio message from Wang Xiaofei. The stream attracted over 930,000 viewers and generated significant sales for Ma Liu Ji .
Account Bans: The backlash led to the indefinite suspension of Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei’s Douyin accounts for violating platform guidelines. However, the controversy had already driven substantial traffic and sales to their brand .

4. The Financial Impact

Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei’s exploitation of personal drama has had a significant financial impact on their business, Ma Liu Ji.

Revenue Growth: Between 2021 and 2025, Ma Liu Ji’s online sales reportedly surged, with monthly revenues exceeding $14 million at its peak. A significant portion of this growth was attributed to the increased visibility from Zhang Lan’s controversial live streams .
Brand Dependence on Drama: The brand’s reliance on sensationalism has raised concerns about its long-term sustainability. While the controversies have driven short-term gains, they have also damaged the brand’s reputation and alienated some consumers .

5. Ethical and Legal Repercussions

The repeated exploitation of personal drama has not gone unnoticed.

Public Outrage: Many netizens have condemned Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei for their unethical behavior, calling for stricter regulations on influencer marketing .
Legal Actions: Hsu’s family has taken legal action against Zhang Lan and Wang Xiaofei for defamation and spreading false information. These lawsuits highlight the potential legal risks of leveraging personal conflicts for profit .