Barbie Hsu's sister says she regrets Japan trip that led to 'Meteor Garden' star's death

Dee Hsu opened up about her grief following the death of her sister, Barbie Hsu, revealing she blames herself for the family trip to Japan that preceded the tragedy.

In an episode of her talk show “Dee Girls Talk,” Dee reflected on how the trip came together, sharing that it was unusual for Barbie to agree to travel.

“Usually, Barbie would say she was tired and not want to go. But this time, she insisted we must go,” she recalled, as translated by AsiaOne.

Dee said their mother had initially opposed the trip, noting it fell during the Chinese New Year period when flights are more expensive and tourist spots are crowded.

Despite this, Dee, Barbie, and their eldest sister Shi-hsien pushed through with the plan, hoping to spend time together while their children were also free to travel.

“I was the one who initiated the trip first,” Dee admitted. “So, whenever we miss Barbie and talk about her, I would tell my mum, ‘It’s all because I insisted on the trip then.’”

She added that her mother has tried to reassure her not to dwell on guilt, reminding her that blaming herself would only make it harder to move forward.

“But this is the fact,” Dee said. “So I can’t help but wonder, ‘Why didn’t I listen to my mum at the time?’”

The TV host also spoke about how she has been coping with the loss, sharing that she turns to watching dramas and keeping herself occupied with tasks that require focus.

“At the time, I hoped I could sleep constantly… I didn’t want to wake up and face the world,” she said.

Barbie passed away at the age of 48 last year due to pneumonia. The Taiwanese actress is best known for her role as Shan Cai in "Meteor Garden."

Following her death, co-stars Jerry Yan, Ken Chu, and Rainie Yang shared heartfelt tributes. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA News