Taiwan Influencer Found Dead After Domestic Violence Warning

Irene Gu, a 23-year-old Taiwanese influencer and nightclub public relations officer, was tragically murdered by her boyfriend, Liu, outside a cinema in Taipei after he blocked her car and dragged her into a stairwell where he slit her throat. Prior to her death, Gu had publicly shared a protective order she filed against Liu, revealing ongoing domestic violence and warning him that she would report any abuse to the police. Liu, who also worked at the nightclub as a security guard, confessed to killing Gu during a dispute over approximately $13,000 he claimed he had lent her, a claim Gu denied. Despite Gu's attempts to seek legal protection, including filing a complaint for assault and applying for a protective order, Liu failed to appear in court. Gu's social media posts indicated her fear that blocking Liu on social media would not stop him, as he had been persistently monitoring her activities and disturbing her coworkers. The case highlights the disturbing realities of domestic violence and the challenges victims face even when seeking help.