Taiwanese TV host Dee Hsu has addressed concerns over the continued use of her late sister Barbie Hsu’s image by a skincare and wellness brand more than a year after her death.
Online users recently pointed out that Barbie Hsu’s photos are still being featured on the brand’s website and social media platforms, prompting criticism that her image is being used for commercial gain.
While local media did not directly name the company, Barbie Hsu had endorsed TKLAB during her lifetime. According to The Straits Timesher image remains on the brand’s website, and two videos featuring her from 2022 and 2023 are still available on its YouTube channel. Her photos also continue to appear on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
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Barbie Hsu’s image featured on TKLAB’s Instagram. Photo from Instagram/@tklab_official |
Responding to the backlash, Dee Hsu’s manager said the arrangement was made following discussions between the Hsu family and the brand, with the aim of preserving Barbie Hsu’s image in a respectful and positive way.
Dee Hsu, also known as Little S, recently returned to her talk show Dee Girls Talk after taking a year-long break following her sister’s passing. The 47-year-old also serves as a brand ambassador for TKLAB.
Barbie Hsu died in Tokyo on Feb. 2, 2025, at the age of 48. Her family said she succumbed to pneumonia caused by complications from influenza while traveling during the Lunar New Year holiday.
A prominent figure in Taiwanese and Asian entertainment, she was best known for her role as Shan Cai in the 2001 drama Meteor Garden, which cemented her status as a pop culture icon in the early 2000s.
