Malaysian actor Zhang Yaodong spotted working at seafood stall in Singapore following controversy

Malaysian actor Zhang Yaodong. Photo from Zhang's Facebook

According to The Star, a video of Zhang working at the stall in a white T-shirt was shared on Xiaohongshu on Wednesday. The person who uploaded the video confirmed that the stall is owned by Zhang and that he was managing it himself that day after his employee resigned. They also praised Zhang’s politeness and professionalism, highlighting his calm and humble demeanor while working.

This sighting comes after Zhang’s public image was tarnished in July 2024 when rumors surfaced alleging he fathered children out of wedlock with women of different nationalities. The accusations prompted Zhang, who was previously represented by Singapore’s media conglomerate MediaCorp, to file a police report, with his manager stating that the actor would not be addressing the issue further.

However, in Nov. 2024, Zhang confirmed his fatherhood status for the first time by sharing a photo on Instagram of himself with his two daughters while on holiday in South Korea.

Earlier this year, MediaCorp’s talent management agency, The Celebrity Agency, announced that it was no longer representing Zhang, and he had not been involved in any new productions since Feb. 2024.

Zhang, who comes from a family of hawkers, has always had ties to the food business. He previously ran a catering service, opened a roast meat stall in a food court, and sold Taiwanese beef noodles in Kuala Lumpur. In 2017, he launched an Asian fusion restaurant named Maru in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore, though it has since closed.

Zhang, 48, made his acting debut in 2002 after finishing as first runner-up in the Malaysian edition of the "Star Search" competition. Before making his acting debut in 2002, he had worked as a model and appeared in various commercials in Malaysia.