KUALA LUMPUR: Popular Chinese actress and director Vicki Zhao recently revealed that she divorced her Singaporean businessman ex-husband, Huang Youlong, years ago.
The announcement came amid reports of Huang's staggering HK$750 million (RM432 million) debt, according to 8days.
"I officially divorced Mr Huang many years ago. Any issues, speculations, or news reports related to him have nothing to do with me," she wrote on Weibo.
Zhao also urged the public to avoid linking her to unfounded claims.
Zhao and Huang, both 48, married in 2008 and share a 14-year-old daughter, April, who is reportedly studying abroad.
While the exact timing of their divorce remains unclear, rumours surfaced in 2020 when Zhao deleted all traces of Huang from her Instagram account.
Huang has faced numerous lawsuits since 2017 over unpaid debts, including HK$2.8 million (RM1.6 million) in rent for a luxury duplex in Hong Kong.
Speculation suggests Zhao's announcement was prompted by his financial troubles.
The divorce revelation quickly trended on Weibo, garnering widespread support for Zhao.
Blogger Ta Lang Zhi Fan defended her, stating, "Mr Huang should take responsibility for his own mess instead of blaming Vicki."
The blogger claimed Zhao filed for divorce in 2019, but Huang delayed signing the papers.
The Covid-19 pandemic and Zhao's 2021 blacklisting by Chinese authorities further delayed the process.
Adding to the controversy, rumours allege Huang started a new family overseas with a former family tutor. Netizens claim he had an affair during his marriage to Zhao, later marrying the tutor and settling overseas with their children.
Neither Zhao nor Huang has addressed these allegations.