Taiwanese influencer discovered dead in hotel bathtub, sparking murder probe

A Taiwanese influencer known for pulling off racy stunts was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Malaysia — and investigators are now probing her death as a murder, according to reports.

Iris Hsieh, 31, was discovered dead around 1:40 p.m. local time on Oct. 22 at a hotel on Jalan Conlay, a street in Kuala Lumpur, The Star reported.

Iris Hsieh, 31, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Malaysia on Oct. 22. Facebook/Iris Hsieh

After initially being classified as a sudden death, investigators have since launched a murder probe, the New Straits Times reported.

The influencer with over 547,000 followers on Instagram, whose real name is Hsieh Yu-hsin, was reportedly in the hotel with local rapper Namewee when she died, the outlet reported.

Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was arrested the day of Hsieh’s death for alleged possession and use of drugs but was released on bail on Oct. 24 after pleading not guilty, officer Datuk Fadil Marsus told The Star.

The musician, known for rapping about taboo topics in Malaysia, was cuffed after officers found ecstasy pills on him. He later tested positive for amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC, the BBC reported.

The influencer with over 547,000 followers on Instagram, whose real name is Hsieh Yu-hsin, was reportedly in the hotel with local rapper Namewee when she died. X/@irisirisss520

In a translated statement on Instagram, Chee, 42, denied using any drugs and said he felt “deeply sorry” about Hsieh’s death.

“The truth will be out when the police report is released,” he wrote.

Police haven’t named Chee a suspect, and are collecting surveillance footage and statements from hotel staff to retrace Hsieh’s final movements.

“We will re-examine all the victim’s movements and that of the suspect we have identified. We expect to make an arrest soon and will provide updates from time to time,” Marsus told the New Straits Times.

“It’s a comprehensive investigation examining every movement of both the victim and the person last seen with her,” he continued, the outlet reported.

Hsieh’s cause of death, including toxicology results, is still pending, authorities said.

Hsieh raised eyebrows last year for taking off her red thong while sitting on a bed in an Ikea store in Taipei City, Taiwan, using her lacy underwear to pull her hair into a loose ponytail.

She often posted bikini-clad pics and provocative content on her accounts, according to her social media.