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Alice Yan

A Taiwan actress at the centre of an online controversy in which her in-laws have been accused of pushing her to have a baby says starting a family is not a priority as she is enjoying her life.
Joe Chen Qiaoen, 44, has been married to Alan Zeng Weichang, a Malaysian tycoon, for two years. He is nine years her junior.
Since last year, people online have been urging Chen to get pregnant, saying that having a child is important to her husband’s family, the website news.china.com reported.
The online pressure has been mounting in recent weeks, with one person saying that if Chen does not get pregnant this year, her in-laws will get “outside help” to give them a grandchild.

“Her parents-in-law do not care who gives birth to the child. It’s fine as long as it is her husband’s child,” said one person online.
“Chen Qiaoen has been trying to get pregnant for a long time but all her efforts have failed. She needs medication to relieve her stress,” another rumour monger said.
Chen called the online chatter “groundless and shameless” in a Weibo post on March 10.
“Life is full of choices. I think everyone has the right and freedom to choose a life he or she wants to live because we only live once,” said Chen.
“I am approaching 45 years old. Touching my heart, I hear a voice in my heart saying, ‘I really love the present me’.”
Chen said having a baby is not the first thing she intends to pursue at the moment and she believes her life can be complete without a child as part of it.
“Do you think it is necessary for me to work so hard to have a baby? What’s more, I have got two fur kids (her pet dogs). I love all fur kids and I will have more,” Chen wrote.
She concluded her post by saying: “I am living my life happily. Whether I have a baby is none of your business.”

Chen, who was born and grew up in Taiwan, is popular on the mainland and has about 70 million followers on Weibo.
Nicknamed “Never-becoming-old Goddess” by people online, Chen has starred in dozens of television series and arts programmes on the mainland.
Her tirade against the rumour mongers has been viewed 120 million times on Weibo and she has received massive support on social media.
“Her mindset is way too good. Everyone should think in this way that we should be ourselves first,” one person said.
“I agree with her choice. It’s better than those women who have a baby and then are exhausted every day,” said another.


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A 44-year-old Taiwan actress has become the target of online rumours that if she does not give her younger, rich Malaysian tycoon husband a child soon, he will seek “outside help”. She hits back saying she is happy with her life as it is. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo

Taiwan actress Joe Chen Qiaoen has been targeted by online rumour mongers. Photo: Weibo

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News

People & Culture

China Personalities

Gender & Diversity

Actress marries wealthy younger husband, under duress to start family
Insists she is happy, calls online rumours ‘groundless and shameless’


A 44-year-old actress from Taiwan who is popular on the mainland and married to a Malaysian tycoon nine years her junior has been targeted by internet trolls insisting she should give her husband a child.


Women and gender

Icons and Influencers

Taiwan actress faces social media pressure to have baby with tycoon Malaysian husband or risk him getting ‘outside help’, says ‘not my priority’

Actress marries wealthy younger husband, under duress to start family Insists she is happy, calls online rumours ‘groundless and shameless’

Actress marries wealthy younger husband, under duress to start family

Insists she is happy, calls online rumours ‘groundless and shameless’