Entertainment
Hong Kong-American Pop Singer Coco Lee Is Dead
American pop singer Coco Lee who was born in Hong Kong and was well-known in Asia for her diva riffs and Mandarin voiceover work on Disney’s “Mulan” passed away on Wednesday.
According to a statement from her family, the 48-year-old had experienced depression in previous years, but, according to Carol Lee and Nancy Lee’s Instagram post, “her condition has deteriorated dramatically over the last few months.”
She was hospitalised Sunday after attempting to take her own life, they said.
“Despite the best efforts of the hospital team to rescue and treat her from her coma, she finally passed away on 5 July, 2023.”
Born January 17, 1975, in British-ruled Hong Kong, Lee — who also grew up in California — gained prominence in the 90s for her strong voice, crescendoing vocal riffs and soulful ballads.
Her fluency in Cantonese, Mandarin and English helped Lee access a fan base not only in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, but also in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia, as well as in Australia.
She sang the Mandarin version of the 1998 ballad “Reflection” from the Disney film “Mulan”, and recorded “A Love Before Time” as part of the soundtrack for martial arts film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” directed by Ang Lee.
She performed the Best Original Song-nominated number at the 2001 Academy Awards, making her the first singer of Chinese descent to grace the Oscars stage, according to Warner Music China.
In 1999, Lee debuted her first full English-language album, “Just No Other Way”, which featured more R&B-influenced hits like “Do You Want My Love”.
From that album, “Before I Fall in Love” was chosen as the theme song for the Richard Gere and Julia Roberts rom-com “Runaway Bride”.
In her final Instagram post, Lee shared tattoos reading “love” and “faith” scrawled on her arms.
“My 2 favorite words that I carry strongly in my heart which I desperately needed to get thru this incredibly difficult year,” she wrote in the post, published on the final day of 2022.
“You are not alone, no matter how hard life gets, I’m with u,” she wrote to her followers.
According to her sisters, 2023 marked the “30th anniversary of CoCo’s singing career”.
“We are thankful to God for giving us such a kind angel,” they wrote.
“Although CoCo stays in the world for not long a time, her rays of light will last forever!”
Eloswag, a former contestant on Big Brother Naija Season 7, has broken his silence following the release of his private video online.
The reality star reportedly uploaded a clip featuring himself and an unidentified woman on his Snapchat account at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday.
Though Eloswag swiftly deleted the video, it had already caught the attention of the internet.
The explicit content quickly gained traction after being reposted by the controversial gossip blog, Gistlover, sparking widespread conversations across social media platforms.
In response to the incident, Eloswag took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration and consider possible legal action.
In a now-deleted post, he wrote, “I mistakenly posted a video on my Snapchat by 3am and deleted it immediately, guess who has the video? GISTLOVER? How? Please, can I sue? Because it doesn’t make sense.”
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The reality star’s reaction highlights the challenges celebrities face when intimate content finds its way online.
While some supporters have shown empathy, others have engaged in heated debates about the responsibility of public figures in handling their digital content.
Eloswag’s predicament places him alongside other Nigerian celebrities who have dealt with similar scandals, such as Moyo Lawal, Tiwa Savage, Oxlade, and James Brown, whose private videos have previously surfaced online.
Legal experts have weighed in on Eloswag’s potential case, noting that while pursuing legal action against individuals or platforms that share such content can be complex, it is not impossible.
The development has reignited discussions on digital privacy and the ethical responsibilities of content-sharing platforms.
As Eloswag’s fans and critics await further updates, the incident underscores the precarious nature of online privacy and the far-reaching consequences of a single momentary lapse.
Nigeria’s Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has claimed the No. 2 spot on the Miss Universe Pre-Arrival Hot Picks, solidifying her position as a top contender in the upcoming November 16, 2024, pageant.
As excitement builds for Miss Universe 2024, Adetshina’s ranking has sparked national pride and optimism in Nigeria, with many hopeful she could secure the title.
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Adetshina arrived in Mexico last month to prepare for the competition and has since captured widespread attention.
However, her path to Miss Universe has been marked by challenges.
Initially competing as Miss Taraba in Miss Universe Nigeria, she withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant following online backlash regarding her nationality and accusations of fraud by the South African Home Office.
This setback, however, did not deter her ambitions.
Her current standing as a top pick underscores her growing international recognition and support, positioning her as a formidable contender ahead of the competition.
Many have taken to social media to voice their support, with some declaring her Nigeria’s best chance yet to secure the Miss Universe crown.
Nigerians have been ranked among the top social media users globally, with 2024 data positioning the country fifth in the world for average daily time spent online.
According to figures from Cable.co.uk and We Are Social, shared by World of Statistics on X, Nigerians spend an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes per day on social media.
Leading the global list is Kenya, where users spend the most time on social media at 3 hours and 43 minutes daily. South Africa follows closely with 3 hours and 37 minutes, Brazil with 3 hours and 34 minutes, and the Philippines at 3 hours and 33 minutes.
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With an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes, Nigeria ranks just behind these top four countries in social media engagement.
Other nations with notable social media usage include Colombia at 3 hours and 22 minutes, Chile and Indonesia both at 3 hours and 11 minutes. Completing the top ten are Saudi Arabia and Argentina, with daily averages of 3 hours and 10 minutes and 3 hours and 8 minutes, respectively.
By comparison, some countries report lower social media usage. Ghana averages 2 hours and 43 minutes, Egypt 2 hours and 41 minutes, and Thailand 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Among European countries, social media engagement is generally lower, with Portugal averaging 2 hours and 23 minutes, Romania 2 hours and 20 minutes, and Italy 2 hours and 17 minutes, highlighting significant regional variations in social media usage.
Full list:
Kenya – 03:43
South Africa – 03:37
Brazil – 03:34
Philippines – 03:33
Nigeria – 03:23
Colombia – 03:22
Chile – 03:11
Indonesia – 03:11
Saudi Arabia – 03:10
Argentina – 03:08
Mexico – 03:04
Malaysia – 02:48
Ghana – 02:43
Egypt – 02:41
Thailand – 02:30
Bulgaria – 02:26
Vietnam – 02:23
Portugal – 02:23
Romania – 02:20
Italy – 02:17
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