Filipino actress Cristine Reyes faces backlash for blending birthday wishes with tribute to Barbie Hsu

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Photo from Hsu Studio's Weibo

According to Preview Philippines, Reyes commemorated Hsu by sharing an old photo of them together on Instagram. She captioned it: "Rest in peace, Shan Cai, our childhood favorite. Also, happy 36th [birthday] to me today 2•5•25."

The caption referenced Hsu’s role Shan Cai in the popular Taiwanese TV series "Meteor Garden." However, many found Reyes’ attempt to honor Hsu inappropriate, as it merged personal celebration with a memorial tribute, lacking the necessary solemnity for a time of mourning. This blend led to a swift surge of negative reactions, compelling Reyes to remove the original post.

In response to the criticism, Reyes expressed her frustrations on Instagram Stories. She questioned if wishing herself a happy birthday was acceptable and lamented the relentless pursuit of perfection and the severe criticism that often targets public figures.

"Happy birthday to me. Is that okay now? Does everything always have to be perfect?" she wrote. "It’s forbidden to make mistakes nowadays. There’s cruelty in return for mistakes, right? Perhaps I am indeed mourning on my birthday. Good? There are so many critics in the world."

Hsu gained prominence through series like "Meteor Garden," "Mars," and "Summer’s Desire." Her family confirmed her passing at age 49 on Feb. 3, in a statement by her younger sister, Dee Hsu.

Speculation regarding Hsu’s death originated from a Facebook post, which was initially greeted with skepticism due to her recent public appearances in robust health, such as attending a wedding in January and featuring in a New Year’s post by her husband, South Korean musician DJ Koo. Subsequently, leaked medical reports disclosed that the actress had missed two crucial chances for medical intervention while in Japan.

Her ashes were returned to Taiwan by her family.