Michelle Yim Addresses Controversial Encounter, Says She’s “Not a Weak Woman” After Alleged Unwanted Contact

HONG KONG, July 18 – Veteran Hong Kong actress Michelle Yim has broken her silence after a viral video led many online to believe she had been harassed by a man at a restaurant.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media, appeared to show a man leaning close to Yim, touching her shoulder and moving near her hair while she leaned back, prompting concern from many viewers.

Responding publicly for the first time during a livestream on Alice Lau's YouTube programme A Date with Alice Lau, the 70-year-old actress dismissed the speculation and reassured fans that the situation had been misunderstood.

"I would never let anyone take advantage of me or bully me. That's not who I am. I'm not a weak woman—I used to be an action actress, and I know how to defend myself," she said with a laugh.

Yim explained that the man seen in the video was actually a friend, not a stranger.

She recalled that a singer was performing at the restaurant at the time, making the venue extremely noisy. As a result, her friend had to lean in to speak to her, while she repeatedly told him they could continue the conversation over the phone later.

She stressed that there was no harassment or publicity stunt involved, adding that the incident was simply a misunderstanding caused by the camera angle and the noisy environment.

Host Alice Lau joked that Yim's facial expression and body language in the photos did make it look as though she was trying to avoid the man. Yim laughed and reiterated that she has always known how to protect herself.

She added that she has always been careful about the people she associates with, believing it is better to make more friends than enemies.

With Yim personally addressing the rumours, many fans who had been worried about her have expressed relief following her explanation.