World mourns pop sensation Coco Lee as tearful final funeral service takes place in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, CHINA: Today, the world mourns the loss of renowned pop sensation Coco Lee, as the second and final funeral service took place in North Point, Hong Kong. Family, friends, and over a thousand devoted fans gathered to remember the beloved multilingual artist, highlighting the lasting impact she had on the global music scene.

Coco Lee, who broke barriers as one of the first Chinese singers to gain mainstream success in the United States, passed away earlier this month at age 48, following a long struggle with depression, according to her family. The public outpouring of love and support demonstrated the deep connection she shared with her fans.

Braving the sweltering Hong Kong summer heat, hundreds of fans, dressed in black and carrying white flower bouquets, lined up outside the funeral home where both private and public memorials took place ahead of her cremation. Online, the funeral became one of the most searched topics on Chinese social media platform Weibo, attracting the attention of almost 400 million users.

Nancy Lee, Coco’s older sister, quoted the late singer during the memorial service, which was streamed online: “My sister would often say this in her concert: ‘You could have chosen to go anywhere but today you chose to come here to be with me.’” Nancy thanked everyone for their support, reminding them of Coco’s infectious smile and kind heart.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in the United States, Lee found success throughout the 1990s in Asia, particularly Taiwan, after launching her music career in her birthplace. Her music transcended language barriers, singing in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, and selling millions of albums worldwide. Her unique blend of R&B and hip-hop resonated with US audiences, contributing to her international fame.

Lee also became the voice of Disney’s Mulan in the Mandarin version and performed at the Oscars in 2001 with the romantic ballad, “A Love Before Time,” from the award-winning martial arts film, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Tributes to her legacy also came from artists sharing her Chinese heritage and US connection, such as David Tao, Wang Leehom, Vanness Wu, and MC Jin.

In recent years, her popularity soared in mainland China after her appearances on singing competition shows, including “Infinity and Beyond” and “Singer.”

The final funeral service, streamed globally, saw Lee’s husband, Canadian business executive Bruce Rockowitz, along with his two daughters, under scrutiny by netizens. Online viewers criticized Rockowitz for his apparent lack of emotional display, igniting a controversy that continued after the service, with Coco’s sisters, Nancy and Carol Lee, accusing him of causing their sister’s death.

The late singer’s estate has reportedly been a subject of contention between Rockowitz and Lee’s family, with allegations of Rockowitz’s absence during Lee’s recent surgery and rumors of extramarital affairs adding to the ongoing family drama.

Coco Lee’s death marks a profound loss to the music industry, her influence echoing across borders and cultures. As her body was carried out of the funeral facility by eight of her closest friends and colleagues, her indelible mark on the world will forever be remembered.