MandoPop Star, Coco Lee Has Passed Away at Age 48
The Hong Kong-born American singer has had a long battle with depression which she unfortunately succumbed to over the weekend
*Content Warning: This article will be reporting on sensitive mental health topics such as suicide and self harm*
Hong Kong-born pop star, Coco Lee has passed away on July 5th in the hospital after attempting to take her own life on July 2nd. The singer was 48. The tragic news broke via an Instagram post made by her sisters, Nancy and Carol Lee with a heartfelt letter penned to the fans saying, "With great sadness, we are here break the most devastating news: CoCo had been suffering from depression for a few years but her condition deteriorated drastically over the last few months. Although, CoCo sought professional help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside of her took the better of her."
This year would have marked the iconic Mandopop star's 30th anniversary since her debut in the compilation album 'Red Hot Hits ’93 Autumn Edition' after which we saw her meteoric rise to stardom in the 90s and breakthrough in the US market. She was one of the first Chinese artists to do so with her songs "Before I Fall in Love" and "A Love Before Time" from the soundtracks Runaway Bride and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon respectively. The latter was performed at the 2001 Academy Awards by Lee as the English version of the song was nominated for 'Best Original Song'.
Lee was also well known for being the voice of Fa Mulan in the Mandarin dub of the Disney classic where she sang the Mandarin version of the iconic theme song, "Reflection". She is, of course, most well known for her mandopop albums of which she had an extensive discography, selling millions of copies worldwide.
In 2011, Lee made headlines with a lavish US$20 million dollar wedding at the Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong. The singer married her long-time partner for 8 years, Canadian billionaire Bruce Rockowitz. The wedding was attended by some of the biggest stars including Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys. Lee also released the song “I Just Wanna Marry You” in celebration of the union.
We offer our deepest condolences to Coco Lee's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. May she rest in peace.
If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the help of a licensed mental health professional. In Singapore, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the Institute of Mental Health's 24-hour hotline at 6389 2222 for immediate assistance. It's important to prioritize your mental health and seek the appropriate help when needed.
