Taiwanese singer Jeannie Hsieh has addressed the speculation surrounding the identity of her child’s father.
During a recent appearance on the variety show Omg What?, hosts Li Jing and William Shen brought up singer Gemma Wu’s surprise baby announcement and her decision to keep the identity of the father a secret.
However, Li inadvertently sparked rumours after mentioning that Hsieh had faced a similar situation in the past, even blurting out the name of the alleged father. She has since apologised for the blunder.
On Jan 18, Hsieh shared on Instagram a handwritten note, revealing that she became a mother at 24 and reiterating that she owes no one an explanation for her personal decisions.
“I will bear the ridicule, discrimination, criticism and judgement of others,” said the 50-year-old, who often keeps her private life under wraps.
The singer, who made her debut in 1989, added that she wouldn’t recommend anyone to become an unmarried mother as it’s not an easy path to walk down.
“The hardships are far from simple. There will be stares and negative labels,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Hsieh affirmed her commitment to staying optimistic and strong.
She also urged single mothers to prioritise protecting not only their children but themselves too.
News about Hsieh’s son first emerged in 2009 when he was 12 years old.
Over the years, the singer has always maintained her stance on protecting her son’s privacy, saying: “I hope (the public) will grant my family more space so I can protect my child.”