The former assistant of China-based Singaporean actress Eleanor Lee has confessed to maliciously editing and leaking an audio recording that landed the actress in controversy in late April.
In a Weibo post today, the ex-assistant, identified only as Xiao Pang, admitted to fabricating the 31-second audio clip that allegedly captured Lee making derogatory remarks about Chinese nationals.
“After criticism and counselling from the authorities, I deeply realised that maliciously editing, mixing and fabricating the audio clip of Eleanor Lee ‘insulting Chinese nationals’ as well as spreading false information violated the law and caused serious damage to her reputation,” Xiao Pang wrote in the public statement.
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The audio clip in question, which was shared in late April, purportedly featured a woman’s voice saying “most Chinese people are stupid” and that she is “not here for the fame but for money.”
Lee, 25, and her management team had previously denied the authenticity of the recording on 10 May, insisting that she was not the person speaking in the clip.
Investigation Reveals Former Assistant’s Motives
According to a Weibo post by Lee’s management on 21 May 2025, Eleanor met with Chinese authorities on 12 and 13 May.
Xiao Pang was summoned by the police for investigation on 13 May, during which they confessed to their actions.
In an apology letter attached to the Weibo post, Xiao Pang revealed they had worked as Lee’s manager and assistant in China from 2017 to 2019, managing her acting career and daily needs.
The former staff member admitted to recording Lee’s conversations before resigning from the company over what they believed to be unfair treatment. They then attempted to use the edited audio clips to negotiate with the company.
Xiao Pang explained that in 2024, an incident prompted them to post the edited audio clip in a chat group involving Eleanor’s company and her fans.
“On impulse, I also fabricated many content. It was partially to vent my anger and I also wanted to continue my communication with the company. At the time, I thought that if my words were unclear then I wouldn’t have to be responsible for it. I didn’t expect my erroneous actions would have such serious consequences and negative impact on Eleanor,” they wrote.
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The former assistant clarified that during their working relationship, Lee was “a positive, hardworking and talented young woman” who had “never expressed disapproval of China and the Chinese people and wouldn’t have made derogatory remarks about Chinese people like the one I edited in the audio clips.”
Lee Responds to Former Assistant’s Confession
In response to her former assistant’s confession, Lee posted a video on multiple social media platforms, including Instagram and Weibo, reaffirming her stance.
“My feelings and stance on China have never wavered. I’ve always adhered to the one-China policy. It is absolutely impossible for me to say anything insulting about China and the Chinese people,” Lee stated in her post.
The actress thanked Chinese police and the Singapore embassy for their assistance in the video and apologised for taking up public resources.
Her management has vowed to “safeguard the legitimate rights and interests” of Eleanor and requested netizens to not believe in rumours and to stop spreading false information.
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Addy Lee
The controversy also led to former celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee revealing his fallout with Eleanor and her mother, local host Quan Yi Fong, in a livestream on 13 May.
Yi Fong later responded that his criticism had “no effect” on her.
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