Taiwanese star Lin Bo-hong has shed his early label as “Ariel Lin’s junior” and seen his career soar, with a steady stream of works and endorsements bringing him both popularity and a tidy income. However, family scandals have erupted, as his uncles have accused Lin Bo-hong’s father of borrowing over 10 million NTD and then disappearing without repayment. When they reached out to Lin Bo-hong, he reportedly read their messages but did not reply. Later, the brothers signed a promissory note with the father for 4.5 million NTD (about 640,000 MYR), and Lin Bo-hong is said to have angrily berated his father as a “stray dog,” shattering his previously warm and faultless public image.
According to Mirror Weekly, Lin’s father lost money on investments and accumulated significant debts. To raise his children, he borrowed over 10 million NTD in total from three close brothers, never repaying them. The total debt is reportedly around 20 million NTD (about 2.88 million MYR). The uncles told the magazine that out of kinship, they helped take care of Lin Bo-hong and his brother, but after Lin Bo-hong became famous, Lin’s father would boast about him and even deliver meals to film sets as a form of PR. The uncles found this distasteful, and negotiations for repayment were met with the excuse, “Let Bo-hong make more money for a few more years before repaying,” after which the father became evasive.
As for Lin Bo-hong himself, he reportedly responded poorly, telling his second uncle he wanted to see documentation first, leading the uncle to feel deeply hurt and accuse him of ingratitude. After gathering proof of the debt, last September they signed a performance agreement with Lin’s father. This reportedly enraged Lin Bo-hong, and his father, unable to bear the strain, got drunk and collapsed on the street, requiring emergency treatment, where Lin Bo-hong allegedly berated his father at the hospital. When asked about the debts, the father evaded acknowledgment in comments to the magazine, also excusing his son by saying, “He doesn’t know anything,” and denying any lack of respect from Lin Bo-hong himself. Lin Bo-hong has not yet responded.
Source: United Daily News