Ruco Chan is Protective Towards Phoebe Sin
When Ruco Chan (陳展鵬) and Phoebe Sin’s (單文柔) relationship was exposed in 2017, fans reacted negatively and did not immediately embrace their romance. Not only did the 41-year-old actor’s popularity plummet, but Phoebe’s reputation also suffered. A variety of rumors were abound, with some accusing Phoebe was using Ruco to promote herself. After dating for more than a year, the public is finally starting to warm up to the couple. Ruco has also stated that he views Phoebe as a potential marriage partner.
Reflecting on their earlier dating days and the public’s reaction, Ruco said, “To me, it was not a big deal. The most important thing is the truth of the situation. I work in the entertainment industry, so I understand the audience and how things are. For a new person though, it was difficult for her to grasp and handle the situation. When something happens so suddenly and you can’t get a good handle on the situation, it would affect her tremendously. Take a child for example. When you give the child a negative signal, it would affect the child’s mentality and, ultimately, affect his or her growth. The entertainment industry is the same. False reports and allegations would leave a mark on the person. We were fortunate this time. In the end, the audience finally came around to understand the situation. This reduced the harm done to her.”
In addition to worrying about Phoebe, Ruco was also concerned about her family during the rough times of their initial relationship. He reflected, “Right when she joined the entertainment industry, something of this magnitude happens. Imagine how worried and afraid her family was? What she and I had to deal with was not just the accuracy of the allegations, but having to persuade her family to believe the truth.”
Fortunately, the couple was able to withstand through the storm. Not only are they still in a stable relationship, but their bond has also strengthened. Ruco expressed, “I believe in fate. This time, I fatefully met a simple-minded girl. She understands me. Because I am someone who keeps my feelings to myself, I am not someone who is straightforward and cannot clearly express myself. Not everyone can be accepting of this. Sometimes, I don’t even know how to balance it out. But she trusts me. This is a good foundation. A lot of people like to see fairy tales, but often overlook the middle part. Actually, every fairy tale’s romance must go through some hardships. Right now, we are focused on mutual consideration and understanding. Everything else can then be solved in a simple manner.”
Source: Ming Pao Weekly
This article is written by Huynh for JayneStars.com.
His compliments about her sound like backhanded compliment. He made her sound weak and naive; he had to do everything and think for her to protect her since she’s so “simple minded.”
I honestly don’t care who he dates or not as long as he continues to be interesting on screen. It’s just he handled their relationship at the beginning pretty badly IMO. He denied up and down when he could’ve simply said, we’re very raw stage and let us naturally takes its course.
If they’re happy, hope they last!
@jjwong I can’t read Chinese so I don’t really know the feeling behind the original “simple-minded” but for me, I think of it as unpretentious, not materialistic, and easy going. I think it is a compliment because he is not attracted to a drama queen.
Compared to him, who has had so many long years of delayed success and uncertainty, she is naive.
I have only recently followed HK entertainment news, so I was not aware of how poorly he first handled their relationship. It seems most celebrities can not admit to new relationships, which is so silly.
Anyways, I agree that I just want to watch good acting with some good writing.
@potatochip you would think a 40yo knows how to handle the media regarding relationship…
Uh, it seems he blames it all on the media and not how he himself handle it in the beginning? Like if in the beginning he has the balls to say she did not use me for fame, we are still at the initial phase, please let us be like many other celebrities then there will be “no mental scarring on her??”
He sounds pretentious >_>
@littlefish what exactly did Ruco do in the beginning of their relationship? I’m quite confused why so many people are not fond of him because of it.
@taylor
He didn’t do anything major. He led the press on when asked about His relationship with Nancy and did not clarify things. When he got spotted with Phoebe he was very vague with his answers to questions. At times he he became angry during interviews when asked about his relationship and insisted on only answering questions series related. When Ruco and his mother trashed a house and left owing rent to his landlord, he was very eager to speak to the press in his ancient costume.I didn’t see that he only wanted to mention series related material that time….
@jimmyszeto I don’t understand all the hate towards him. I remember Him and Tavia got caught a few times and they kept denying their relationship too but didn’t get so much hate.
Maybe it’s how he handled the press like many of the people mentioned here, hope he learns from his mistakes and improve.
On a side note, I would probably prefer him with Nancy than Phoebe.
@taylor
There are few reasons why Him and Tavia brought less negative feelings from viewers and fans than Ruco. Him and Tavia do not have a similar fan set. Him was more a support actor at the time and did not have a massive female fanbase. Tavia had a good healthy image and fans who admired her acting. Ruco has just female fans and he let the press continue with the Nancy link when he already had a girlfriend. Then he goes on to become protective of Pheobe like a father protecting a daughter. Most of the hate though are from female fans who could not say a bad word about him prior to him being in a relationship. Him and Tavia are supported because everyone likes Tavia so they accepted Him very quickly as well..
He gives the “pedophile grooming his victim” vibe.
glad they’re stable now, tbh, i supported them from the start. the reason why ruco and phoebe was hated/brought down so much was because of nancy’s fans. imagine if nancy and ruco was never rumoured to be dating, who can really dislike ruco/phoebe. hope they last!
Stop acting like an uncle Ruco! Your smarty pants gf doesn’t need your protection. Don’t try to sound noble when what you are doing is to actually hide the relationship initially for reasons only known to you. So you think people are warming up to your relationship? I think people are just tired of your dodgy ways. It is not about Nancy’s fans causing this negativity. It is actually about you – people have issues with your character and integrity and how badly you handled the whole thing! Your popularity plummeted not because you have a gf but rather it is about you trying to project a goody-two-shoe image!!!
@renac @jjwong Sick and tired of hearing about this money grubbing, pathetic fame seeker on the news all the time.This guy is way overexposed and overrated. He should just look elsewhere to earn a living but not in entertainment industry!
@renac man, I don’t like Ruco but you guys need to let it go lol
@renac YES he kept denying made fans angry (u think we stupid???) and later when he explained his reasons for doing it is like sooooo stupid we just cant accept it
I know it’s the lighting, but geeze they have the same nose xD weird smile from Ruco, otherwise I would say they look the same again xD apart from different skin tones and choosing different lipsticks this time xD
@littlefish I don’t think it’s the lighting. It might be because he’s starting to look his age? His smile seem to be weirder these days and he also seem to have a bit of makeup on in his recent pics or perhaps it has to do w/a bit of lighting as well. haha lol….but definitely he’s not as sharp as before which is quite normal since we will age at some point.
I feel that some feel more relaxed to be with a simple minded girl that does not interfere especially after previous torrid and stressful relationships.
They sorta have the same nose.
I think he likes the fact that she is unassuming and doesn’t use him for publicity. She’s not famous, so it helps. It does in a way balances things. They are not some celeb power couple.
Truth be told, it’s time for him to get married, have children. But I don’t like her I feel his career is still stagnant and she’s not giving him “ong”. It is ridiculous I know but it’s just a feeling.
He shouldn’t be too protective of her. No one is out to get her. If he’s burning bridges so as to protect her, it doesn’t give me the impression he is a great boyfriend. It gives me an impression she is a burden. He must trust that she can handle herself since she is also in the same industry. If not, marry her and make her retire.
@funnlim I’ve seen some Phoebe interviews and I find that she can handle herself and questions much more eloquently than Ruco.
Being protective of his girlfriend is attempting to make himself out as a great man who is out to protect his girlfriend but in reality it just makes him look naive and controlling. Ruco really needs to relax…..
Ruco is an awkward introvert. It’s part of his sometimes relatable charm, but also a detriment to his career. He knows how to transform into an engaging performer when he is “on-stage”, but he is not good at expressing himself well in interviews.
I really wish he could perfect his public persona, but it is so difficult. He seems too cautious because I think he knows he hasn’t been high profile long enough to disregard public opinion.
@potatochip
I think Ruco is very traditional and stubborn individual which is a disadvantage these days in the entertainment circle where networking is important.
@jimmyszeto He is definitely not a networker. Hmm, do you mean traditional and stubborn in that he feels there is a hierarchy? Or that men have certain roles and women have theirs? Or something else?
To me, he seems like an old timer in his personal life but professionally open to new age ideas. He is a polite gentleman, shakes everyone’s hand, looks after the elderly, etc. He has said he wants to do projects with social significance like explore gay characters.
The hiding of this relationship is certainly prudish. I don’t know if it is a misguided attempt at protecting the girl’s reputation or selfishly protecting his career or a bit of both. On one hand, I wish all celebrities can feel more free about their relationships, but on the other, it really isn’t my business.
But I have to say, he really is raked over the coals for this. I wonder if his career was frozen a bit for it. I think this is his first relationship “scandal”, which is silly and not so bad at the same time.
@potatochip
Whether it is protecting himself or his girlfriend, it is very old fashioned approach to life as the world has changed and people have become more innovative. Celebrities in Asia have to sell themselves as a whole package which includes communication about personal life unlike in the west. Simply being a decent actor isn’t enough unless super talented. Ruco is not in the category of the top movie stars (Nick Cheung, Louis Koo, Tony Leung) who can rely on status alone and do not have to comment on personal issues. He needs to be more open to selling his personality and his acting as a whole product. His acting is decent by TVB standards but his behaviour is putting fans off. There are plenty of former/current TVB actors with celeb girlfriend/wives who have formed much healthier images with the press and fans than Ruco. For example Chilam, Sean Lau, Nick Cheung, Kevin, Him, Moses, Power Chan etc. Ruco needs to learn from these people.
@jimmyszeto Oh, I agree. Protecting a reputation is a stupid, outdated, and quite frankly, misogynistic reason to keep a relationship quiet. I recall countless of my college female friends making their boyfriends hide relationships because they did not want to be labeled as a loose girl in case they don’t end in marriage. Part of it is social pressure, but most of it is self-imposed perception.
With celebrities, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy about feeling the need to protect one’s career. So many still do it, just on the front page of Jaynestars, there are 2 other couples denying relationships. They worry about negative backlash, and yes, there is inevitably some. But it is much worse when they worry and hide. I believe even though Kevin and Grace were open, they still had significant backlash, but acceptance was relatively quicker.
I also agree that it would be wonderful if Ruco learned how to interact with the press better. I think he knows that his success is relatively new since he has had so many years of obscurity, so that puts him on an unstable edge. It’s a tricky balance because he is an introvert, so if he becomes too open, they may label him fake. It’s a shame, because to me, he is more talented than some of those you listed, but his persona is limiting his potential.
@funnlim I share your view that his ‘rumoured’ gf is not bringing him luck. Believe it or not! Since dating her, his popularity has taken a dive when it was at an all time high in 2016. He had also to go through a few unfortunate incidents and one necessitated him to take long leave from his acting. Don’t take to her regardless of how much praises Ruco heaps on her.
I don’t understand the need to protect her. This just smacks of having no confidence in her ability to handle things on her own or just wanting to be in control of things. Benjamin Yuen has a gf who is also new to the industry but he is so relaxed and open about it. I don’t hear of him having to protect her and perhaps he is confident that she is able to handle things on her own.