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| Taiwanese Actress Melody Liu and Her Mother Accused of Being “Nightmare Customers” Amid Online Storm (Photo: Weibo) |
Taiwanese actress and host Melody Liu (Liu Gongxian) is facing intense online scrutiny after multiple service staff from airlines, cafés, restaurants and retail shops accused her of rude and demanding behaviour. What began as a casual Threads post about spotting her on a flight quickly snowballed into a wave of claims from workers across industries, pushing the 47-year-old star to publicly respond.
The controversy erupted when a netizen shared an encounter with Melody Liu on a flight back to Taiwan from Paris. While the original post was not explosive on its own, the comment section soon filled with alleged stories from aviation crew members, F&B workers and retail staff who claimed they had difficult experiences serving the actress.
One former employee at a high-end restaurant alleged that Melody Liu became confrontational after a mistake was made with her order.
According to the account, she insisted the server repeatedly recite the menu and criticised them for not remembering it properly. The tone described in the post painted a tense scene that quickly caught attention online.
A café worker also claimed Melody Liu appeared visibly annoyed while waiting for takeaway coffee, despite the wait reportedly being under 10 minutes.
The employee said she repeatedly rushed staff during preparation, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere behind the counter.
In retail, another netizen alleged that Melody tried on several pairs of shoes at a department store near closing time, handling them roughly before leaving without making a purchase.
While none of the incidents have been independently verified, the consistency of the stories gave the topic strong traction across social platforms.
Adding fuel to the discussion, some netizens who claimed to have interviewed for roles at Melody Liu’s self-founded fashion brand shared their own experiences.
One interviewee alleged that they were asked to clean a warehouse and even wipe up dog urine on the interview day before being officially hired, which they described as distressing.
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| Melody Liu Denies Remembering Alleged Incidents Amid Growing Public Debate (Photo: Instagram) |
The situation escalated further when discussions extended to Melody Liu’s 70-year-old mother.
Online users claimed her mother had displayed similar behaviour towards service staff, with some commenting that both mother and daughter treated workers in comparable ways.
A few netizens even referenced Melody Liu’s livestream interactions with her mum, suggesting a pattern in family dynamics. However, these remain personal interpretations rather than confirmed facts.
Faced with mounting backlash, Melody responded through her agency before posting on her own social media.
She stated that she does not regularly use Threads and only became aware of the controversy through news reports. Regarding the various allegations, she said she does not recall the incidents happening as described.
At the same time, she acknowledged that everyone has their own feelings and perspectives.
If any of her actions had made someone uncomfortable, she expressed willingness to reflect sincerely. She also urged the public not to engage in deliberate smearing and emphasised that she takes her responsibility as a public figure seriously.
Fan and netizen reactions have been sharply divided. Some believe that where there is repeated smoke, there may be fire, arguing that multiple similar accounts cannot be purely coincidental.
Others have pointed out that online allegations can spread quickly without context, warning against forming conclusions based solely on anonymous posts.
Supporters have defended Melody’s long-standing elegant public image, while critics say public figures should be especially mindful of how they treat service workers.
The debate has also reignited wider conversations about celebrity privilege, workplace respect and how social media can amplify individual grievances into full-blown reputational storms overnight.
For now, Melody Liu has made her stance clear: she does not remember the alleged incidents but is open to self-reflection. Whether the storm settles quietly or continues to unfold may depend on whether more firsthand accounts emerge.
What do you think about situations like this? Should repeated online claims be taken seriously, or should we wait for clearer evidence before judging?