Veteran actor Rocky Cheng (58) publicly apologized today after a swift, dramatic escalation of his social media relationship status with actress Anita Chui (37) led to widespread confusion and intense public scrutiny. Cheng’s proactive declaration of a romantic relationship, made without Chui’s consent, was subsequently denied by the actress, forcing the actor to issue a detailed statement clarifying their actual status.
Misunderstanding Sparks Media Frenzy
The incident began earlier this week when Cheng, a well-known figure in Hong Kong entertainment, updated his personal social media profile, tagging Chui and setting their relationship status to “In a Relationship.” This high-profile announcement immediately fueled media speculation about a new celebrity romance.
However, Chui quickly refuted the claims while attending a public event, insisting that the two were merely “good friends.” The ensuing conflicting reports placed both actors, particularly Chui, under considerable pressure.
On Thursday morning, Cheng posted a lengthy clarification on social media, taking full responsibility for the confusion. He explained that his actions were driven by a sincere desire to pursue the actress, but poor understanding of social media settings led to the private gesture becoming a public, and misinterpreted, announcement.
A Week-Old Acquaintance
Cheng revealed that the two first met just last week during a fitness class. He described Chui as a hardworking and dedicated individual—qualities he deeply admires. Following two classes together, Chui had thanked him by posting a photo of them exercising on her social media, tagging him, and inviting him to dinner last Friday.
“During dinner, we had excellent communication, and I felt that we could develop a relationship in the future,” Cheng wrote.
Believing the connection was strong, Cheng decided to surprise Chui by changing his personal relationship status on Facebook after they returned home. He admitted his motive was to formally demonstrate his serious intentions, hoping she would wake up the next day, see the notification, and accept his affections.
Unintended Consequences of Social Media
Cheng confessed to being “incompetent” with social media platforms. He mistakenly believed his alteration was only visible on a private setting or required the other party’s confirmation to become public.
“I didn’t realize that even without Anita confirming it, the status would still show up on my private Facebook, visible to everyone,” he explained.
He stated that as a public figure, his negligence fueled unnecessary speculation and created a “dramatic” scenario, causing Chui to endure significant negative publicity and stress.
“This was absolutely not my original intention,” he emphasized. “I must bear responsibility for this and explain the entire sequence of events.”
Cheng firmly stressed that, while he is an admirer, their current relationship remains strictly that of “very good friends.” Given they have only known each other for a week, he confirmed there has been no intimate activity between them.
Request for Privacy and Space
The actor concluded his statement by appealing to the public for understanding and privacy, stating: “We are still in the process of getting to know each other. I hope everyone will give us some space and nurture this budding friendship.”
He indicated that if their relationship does evolve into something more concrete, they would be pleased to share any good news in the future. The incident serves as a sharp reminder for public figures about the immediate and far-reaching impact of private actions taken on social media platforms, highlighting the need for caution, particularly regarding sensitive personal matters.
