After sexual harassment claims, actor Blackie Chen relinquishes chairman position of Taiwan’s pro basketball league
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Four months ago, television host and actor Blackie Chen took leave from his position as chairman of Taiwan’s professional basketball league P.LEAGUE+ following allegations of sexual harassment. Now it is confirmed that he is stepping down.
The six-team basketball league announced on Thursday that Pauian Archiland Group president Thomas Lee, who is also the owner of the league’s Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, had been elected by the league’s board of directors as the new chairman of the board and CEO, Taiwan News reported.
According to the portal, it took the league longer to announce Chen’s replacement after two prospective CEOs were also mired in sexual harassment scandals.
In June, Chen, or his real name Chen Chien-chou, was accused by Hey Girl member Tina Chou of assaulting her.
Chou, also known by her stage name Da Ya (Big Tooth), alleged on social media on June 27 that her former boss — a “Mr Chen” — had hugged her from behind and tried to coerce her into having sex at a hotel in Hong Kong in the early morning of July 18, 2012, The Straits Times reported.
This prompted Chen and his wife singer Christine Fan to file a NT$10 million (RM1.5 million) lawsuit against Chou to “restore the reputation of the parties concerned”.
The couple’s civil suit was later dropped with Chen suing Chou for allegedly damaging his reputation instead.
Following Chou’s claims, Taiwanese actress Yuan Kuo and musician DJ Swallow also came forward in late June to accuse Chen of past sexual harassment.
