Television star Jacky Wu (
Wu apologized to the public for lying about his marriage over the past 10 years. As recently as Monday, Wu was still insisting that he was not married "legally," though he admitted to having children.
"I might have lied to the public in certain aspects, but I didn't have any bad intentions," Wu told a crowd of reporters who had been chasing him over the past days.
PHOTO: SHEN CHAO-LIANG, LIBERTY TIMES
Wu said he and Chang become husband and wife 10 years ago, after a "simple ceremony" attended by their parents. As Wu and Chang did not register their marriage with authorities, the spouse columns on their identification cards still remain blank. The children, meanwhile, bear the mother's surname, rather than Wu's.
Wu said he has been taking care of the children, just like other fathers do, despite his refusal to talk about the matter in front of the media. "They do have a father, and the neighbors all know about this," Wu said.
He said concealing his marital status was not intended to protect his career in the show business, but rather to protect his children from possible harm. "I'm not obliged to disclose my personal life to the public," Wu argued. "This issue is drawing media interest today only because of my growing popularity."
During an interview with local papers on Monday, Chang said that she had kept silent so as not to harm Wu's public image as a famous entertainer. She said she finally decided to speak out after Wu continued to date other girls and repeatedly denied to the media that he was married.
Gossip about Wu's love affairs have appeared from time to time on the entertainment pages of local newspapers. The most well-known one being his relationship with Chen Hsiao-hsuan (陳孝萱), another TV star. Wu and Chen broke up early this year, soon after some pictures that showed Wu intimately hugging another woman named "Candy" were publicized. In addition, one of Wu's assistants, identified as "Angela," reportedly also had a love affair with him.
Speaking of his love affair with Chen, Wu said it took place "during the low ebb" of his marriage with Chang. "Lovers and couples are likely to encounter a low ebb in their relationships," Wu said.
Wu said he had told Chen about Chang and his children, and that Chen had shown full understanding about the issue. However, Chen yesterday denied having any knowledge of Wu's wife and children until Chang publicly exposed the matter.
Wu admitted that he loved to fool around, but insisted there was nothing wrong with his lifestyle.
"I'm an entertainer, rather than a politician," Wu said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS