On Tuesday, several Chinese media outlets reported that a high-profile celebrity in the Chinese entertainment industry had lost over 1 billion yuan while gambling in Macau, allegedly leading to the mortgaging of their assets.
Social media speculation quickly linked Chou to the claims, making “Jay Chou gambling loss” a trending topic on Chinese platforms.
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Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou. Photo courtesy of Chou’s Instagram |
JVR Music, Chou’s management company, dismissed the allegations.
“A recent rumor has circulated online about an A-list star male celebrity gambling in Macau, with many speculating it refers to Jay Chou,” the company said in a statement, as quoted by And Tri.
“We firmly state that this rumor is entirely false and has no connection to Jay Chou. We urge people not to spread misinformation.”
A close acquaintance of Chou also denied the claims, stating that the singer has not been to Macau in years and is currently in Melbourne, Australia, spending time with his family.
Wang Gaofei, CEO of Weibo, said the rumor initially surfaced in October last year and has been spread primarily by anonymous accounts and clickbait websites, Thanh Nien reported.
On Tuesday, fans shared photos of Chou spotted in Melbourne.
Chou, 46, is a celebrated Taiwanese singer-songwriter who debuted in the entertainment industry in 2001. Over the years, he has achieved massive success, selling more than 30 million records and becoming one of Taiwan’s best-selling artists.
His talents extend beyond music, as he is also an accomplished actor, businessman, and investor.
He announced relationship with Taiwanese-Australian model Hannah Quinlivan, 31, in 2014 and tied the knot the following year in a lavish wedding held in an old English castle. The couple shares three children.
