Yuki claims abuse by grandfather

Pop singer and actress Yuki, otherwise known as Hsu Huai-yu (徐懷鈺), yesterday afternoon held a press conference to clarify her relationship with her grandfather -- saying that she is not an "unfilial" granddaughter and was actually abused by her grandfather, local media reported.

Last Friday, an anonymous citizen called a foundation for the elderly, reporting that an old man who lives alone in Taipei's Hsimenting area was perhaps Yuki's grandfather.

Workers at the foundation immediately visited the 75-old-year man Hsu Hsun (徐勳) and confirmed that Hsu is indeed Yuki's grandfather. The workers then exposed the news to local television stations last Saturday, hinting that the pop idol is an "unfilial" granddaughter who does not take care of Hsu at all.

After Yuki refused to comment on earlier rumors, Hsu held a press conference yesterday to express his wish to meet his granddaughter, who moved out with her mother after her parents' marriage ended in divorce 16 years ago.

In response to Hsu's appeal, Yuki, along with her mother and uncle, yesterday at 3pm held a press conference to clarify the whole case.

According to Yuki, her grandfather abused her when she was young. She says both her mother and younger brother were also very often abused by Hsu.

"I never wanted to recall these painful memories in the past," Yuki said in tears.

Yuki also told the media that Hsu once scarred her mother's face with a broken beer bottle.

"I saw him attacking my mother with my own eyes. All these bad memories have influenced me deeply," Yuki said.

According to Yuki, she also suffers from melancholia because of the past family violence.

Yuki said yesterday that she would always take good care of her mother and brother. As for Hsu, Yuki said that it was his children's responsibility to take care of him.

"He even beat every on of his five daughters frequently and forced them to take part in the sex industry," Yuki said. "No wonder none of them is willing to take care of him now."

Hsu, however, yesterday talked to the media again, denying that he was an abuser.

"Am I really that bad?" Hsu asked.

Hsu's eldest son said that Hsu had never forced his daughters to take part in the sex industry.

Yuki, 23, released her first album in 1998 and has managed to catch the public's imagination with her lively singing style.