Pop superstar Coco Lee, 48, died by suicide after a battle with depression, according to a statement from her siblings on Wednesday.

A file photo shows Coco Lee waving at fans during the Hainan Island International Film Festival in Sanya, Hainan province, China, in 2020. [Photo/VCG]

Lee's elder sisters, Carol and Nancy Lee, shared the heartbreaking news on social media. They noted that Coco had struggled with depression for years, recently experiencing a severe decline in her condition, which led to a suicide attempt at her home on July 2. "She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she remained in a coma. Despite the dedicated efforts of the hospital team to rescue and treat her, all attempts were ultimately unsuccessful. On July 5, Coco passed away, leaving this world behind."

Coco Lee was born on Jan. 17, 1975, in Hong Kong. Her career as a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress spanned over three decades. Gaining fame in Hong Kong, her popularity quickly reached a global scale.

While Coco Lee achieved fame through numerous hit songs and albums, including "Thinking of You 365 Days," the theme song from the well-loved Chinese animated film "Lotus Lantern," and "Di Da Di," a Mandarin album that sold 1.8 million copies in Asia, she opted to broaden her career to the international stage. In 1998, she lent her voice to the character Hua Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney's "Mulan" and performed the Mandarin rendition of the film's iconic theme song, "Reflection." The film and the song's resounding success were instrumental in launching her to international fame.

In 1999, Coco Lee was invited to perform at Michael Jackson's all-star charity concert in South Korea. That year also saw the release of her debut English-language album, "Just No Other Way," which achieved international success, selling 2 million copies globally. The album featured popular singles such as "Do You Want My Love" and "Wherever You Go." Notably, "Before I Fall in Love," one of the album's tracks, was featured on the soundtrack for the film "Runaway Bride."

A significant milestone in her career came in 2001 when Coco Lee became the first artist of Chinese descent to perform at the Oscars. At the 73rd Academy Awards, her captivating performance of "A Love Before Time," from Ang Lee's critically acclaimed movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," left the audience mesmerized. The same year, Lee made history again, becoming the first Chanel brand ambassador of Chinese descent in the Asia region.

In her continued pursuit of her career, Lee released six studio albums from 2000 to 2013, including "True Lover You & Me," "Promise Coco," and "Illuminate," demonstrating her commitment to staying relevant in the industry. In 2016, she experienced a renewed surge in popularity when she competed in and won the fourth season of the Chinese reality show "I Am A Singer." Further cementing her success, Lee embarked on the highly successful "You & I" World Tour in 2019.

However, Lee also endured physical pain, dealing with a defect in her left leg for years, which led to surgery earlier this year. Further, rumors have circulated about Lee encountering personal challenges and struggles within her marriage, though she has never publicly addressed them. Lee married Canadian businessman Bruce Rockowitz in 2011. While she has two stepdaughters through her marriage to Rockowitz, she has no biological children.

"The year 2023 would have marked the 30th anniversary of Coco's debut. Over the past 29 years, she has not only brought us immense joy and astonishment with her powerful songs and dances but has also tirelessly paved the way for Chinese singers on the international music scene. She strived to shine a bright light for the Chinese community, and we couldn't be prouder of her," shared her siblings. They emphasized that their primary responsibility now is to provide care for their elderly mother. They requested prayers and appealed for space and time for the family to heal from this devastating loss.

News of Lee's passing sent shockwaves across China. Tributes poured in from fans, friends, collaborators, and fellow artists on social media, honoring the celebrated diva. The hashtag "Coco Lee passed away" trended with 1.33 billion views on the Weibo microblog platform by Thursday morning, among other related trending topics.

Veteran Hong Kong pop icon Alex To shared on Weibo, "Coco's departure is undoubtedly a great loss to the Chinese music industry. Countless fans who adore her must still be eagerly awaiting her next spectacular stage performance because, behind every one of Coco's works, there was always the most dedicated and selfless effort. May Coco reach the happiest realm, where she can experience love and find pure bliss in music and performance."

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)