Hong Kong Singer, Colleen Lau, Suffered Domestic Violence from Husband
After suffering from domestic violence from her husband, Hong Kong singer Colleen Lau (可嵐) finally spoke out about the problem. Although a past violent episode was reported to the police, Colleen rarely spoke about her situation with others as she felt a sense of shame and the need to give others the image that her marriage to restaurateur Tommy Yau (尤子威) was trouble-free. As the severity of their fights grew, Colleen decided to file for divorce.
Previously convicted of assault and criminal damage charges, Tommy exhibited violent tendencies in their marriage. On June 2, Colleen suffered from a neck injury and her knuckles bled when a door slammed on her hand. Tommy also claimed to have injuries from the physical quarrel. Both pressed charges against each other for personal injuries.
The domestic violence case is now under investigation by the police, and Colleen refused to reveal additional details. Although Colleen did not visit the doctor after suffering injuries, she previously contacted social workers that will be following up on the case.
Son is a Priority
Whenever she felt unhappy, Colleen would visit church and confide in her friends such as Eugina Lau (劉美娟). Her three-year-old son remains her main concern right now. Since Colleen grew up in a single-parent family, she did not want her son to go through the same childhood, but she has no choice now. “I can handle physical wounds, but when a child is emotionally hurt, it will leave a scar when he is growing up. I hope everyone can help protect this child. From now on, I will spend my life with him, and take care of him myself alone.”
While dating, Colleen realized Tommy had a hot temper but still married him because she was already pregnant with their son. Since she is a Christian, Colleen tolerated Tommy’s faults and only considered divorce as the last option. She said, “When I decided to start a family with this man, I thought I would spend the rest of my life with him. I hoped that he would change, but our relationship had many problems and our personalities were incompatible. The decision [to divorce] is actually a good thing.” The couple has been living separately for several months.
Husband Claims He is at a Disadvantage
While Colleen’s claims of domestic violence immediately gained public sympathy, husband Tommy said that Colleen was also at fault. He said, “She is the one crying domestic violence, but was I also hit? It’s unfair to be a man these days. She is not a weak woman and is very explosive. One hand cannot clap out loud.”
Tommy also denied slamming a door on Colleen’s hand in the June 2 incident, although admitted that the couple had an argument that night. Tommy said that Colleen’s hand was injured many months ago, “We were arguing about money. I didn’t want to argue with her. She stuck out her hand when I was closing the door.”
In addition, the press revealed that Colleen allegedly has eight years of martial arts training and it was unlikely that she suffered frequent violence from Tommy without any measure of self-defense. Since Colleen had auditioned for the third season of The Voice of China <中國好聲音> in the Hong Kong district, some even speculated that she was using the domestic violence case for publicity to revive her singing career.
Video News Coverage
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This article is written by Su for JayneStars.com.
Drama Queen
I had an ex-colleague, a lady, she would come into the office with dark glasses. Since she was quite close to me, I asked her what happened with all the bruises on her hand and face, she told me her boyfriend beaten her up. She didnt tell me why though, I advised her to leave him because I had no respect for man who lays a hand on a woman knowing their strength. But she didnt listen to me, I left the workplace so I didnt know what happened to her.
A lot of women never stood up or seek help when their husband beats them. They suffered quietly hoping the situation turns better. But I feel almost 99% it won’t, a man is not a man when he hits you. There’s no excuse for this, as a man they’re supposed to look after women as we’re weaker and they’re stronger than us. But instead of looking after us, they beat us, this is something I wont tolerate.
Totally agree. Never tolerate a cheater and a hitter. They will never change.
Hi happybi,
Also a gambler 🙂
Coming back to all these celebrities, I noticed a lot of hongkies like to say that they find peace in christianity. That’s really strange to me as if christianity is the only religion that gives peace.
I honestly feel a lot of christian celebrities somehow are promoting the religions. I’m not saying anything bad about christinity and so forth. To me all religions teach us good, buddhism is also peaceful, to me it’s more whether you find that faith suits you or not that’s all. Doesnt really agree that christianity gives peace, all religion gives peace.
bloom,
I agree with you on the point in regard to Hong Kong people finding peace in chrisianity.
I don’t like to stereotype, but from my observation (being raised in the west, currently living in the east), I tend to find that different cultures interpret religions differently despite believing in the same religion. Asians tend to find peace in christianity (I got a friend from singapore who told me so), but I have never heard westerners saying they found peace in christianity. They tend to say christianity is about love – love your neighbour, love your family, love your friends, etc (yet totally not acting on it). On the other hand, arabians are the ones that tend to say that islam is all about peace (again, never actually acting on it). Westerners tend to think buddhism is about controlling your desire, but buddhists in asia tend to believe buddhism is about controlling your temper/anger. The same things apply to other religions in different societies.
I think this is how different races have different mindset and thus interpret things (NOTE: not only applies to religious interpretation) differently.
Hi qwerty,
Do you agree that one of the reasons why christianity and islam grew so intensely because they’re preacing it?
I live in Asia and has been noticing that christianity are really aggressively promoting this religion to asian countries.
A lot of chinese that I know always assum that if you’re a caucasian, you’re a christian. Yes, they were born by a christian family, but if you dont practice the religion at all, are you still considered a christian. I’ve a lot of caucasian friends and colleagues that tell me they’re not practicing christianity and they were so surprised that asians are so into christianity. Like asian are so immerse and being so staunch.
True a lot of interpretation. To me religion or faith are all good, it all teaches us to be good but which one suits you the best. I’ve had in the past many ppl usually chinese approached me and tried to pacify me to become a christian or join them for church gatherings as most of you may agree usually church has a lot of activities compare to other religions. But, I always give them excuses that I’m already a christian because they won’t want to give up and kept pestering me, and it really irritated me. As of this moment, I still feel that Buddhism suits me the best. I’m not a really staunch Buddhist, just trying to be good as much as possible that’s all.
Hi bloom,
I did not know you live in Asia. May I ask which country? Just curious since you sound like someone who lives in the US or a westernized country.
And a drug addict as well as an alcoholic
Hi mosailan,
Agree but gambler is the worst. Why I said that. Because no matter how much drug you shot to yourself, you’ll go high & that’s it, or die correct? As for alcohol, the most is you got drunk and unconcious, all these have limits.
But, gambling has no limits, you can gamble off everything, borrow from family, friends, loan sharks and still not enough, you’ll go deeper & deeper and some ppl would just gamble off their life.
Point taken. A strong person will not put up it for too long. The mood swings and most likely the beatings whether physical or otherwise will take a toll no matter the addiction.
don’t let a man beat or hit you,once they started it is forever…
I forgot to write this, only coward will choose to hit women. Just think about it, why use force on someone that is weaker than you?
No respect for such man, they’re man just because they have * other than that I really cant see what is so manly of those who hits women.
hum…about the china voice issue, can’t imagine someone using domestic abuse to get attention on themselves b/c of a singing competition.
Personally I feel bad for men. When men get abuse physically or emotionally people don’t care and think that the dude should just freaking man up she is just a woman but women getting abuse all hell broke loose.
When a marriage breaks up its hurtful enough, but to have domestic violence from either parties is just not right. The only real person that is going to suffer is their child. Because no doubt he will be pawn in the negotiations of this divorce.
I agree with the fact that any man that hits a women for any reason is just not right, but society has changed and it is a fact, women commit domestic abuse to their husbands also, and they should also be punished also for their acts. In this case, social services should really step in quick to protect the child, and they both require counciling whether its for the recipient of the abuse or the deliverer of domestic violence.
whether Colleen is acting or not, its in the open now, so just let them deal with it in private, its no one’s business and they do not have to report back to anyone other than their own family on the situation.
We dont know who is the real victim but for sure they are incompatible. Christians do not have sex outside marriage. She committed a sin and justified staying in it using the faith that she blatantly violated. She is contradicting herself. Pity the baby. Suffering for the parents’ irresponsibility.
Very true.
Honestly, it’s very true that it’s really shameful to tell others if your husband beats you. I hope this is not a fabricated news to potray herself as a victim.
Yeah, I guess and she is hypocrite to mention her religion kindness as chirtian that always forgive..it is so hoho..ho fanatic
Because she is in christian, she forgives. So,if she is not christian, she does not forgive..What kind of social background does she have when she lives in developed country ? If she lives in underdeveloped country, I do understand.
The religions that emphasize loyalty, forgiveness I think is..Asia religions.