A major backlash erupted online after Hong Kong actor William Lam was accused of using the Wang Fuk Court fire to promote insurance.
The deadly blaze, which escalated from a Level Four to a Level Five fire within an hour, left at least 55 people dead and 280 missing. As the public was overwhelmed with shock and grief, William Lam’s social media post sparked anger, with many criticising him for “profiting from the dead.”
William Lam, who previously acted in TVB productions and appeared as a supporting actor in various dramas, had also taken part in the programme “Run! Courageous Women.”
Shortly after the fire broke out, he wrote on social media, “Accidents come too suddenly. The fragility of life makes one reflect: which comes first, the unexpected or tomorrow? No one knows. But what we can do is prepare in advance, manage risks well, and leave a sense of security and peace for ourselves and our families.”
His message quickly drew criticism, with netizens accusing him of exploiting a major tragedy to promote insurance products.
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As the situation escalated, William Lam released a detailed apology and clarification statement, saying he was deeply saddened that his message had been misunderstood. In his statement, he wrote:
“Yesterday (26 November), after learning about the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, I posted a message on my personal WeChat Moments (attached below), hoping to express the importance of risk management and protection.
Unfortunately, this was misinterpreted by some social media accounts and media outlets as ‘using the incident to sell insurance,’ even describing it as ‘profiting from the dead.’ This has left me shocked and deeply saddened.
I hereby solemnly clarify:
This message was limited to my personal circle of friends and was not a public promotion;
The original intention was to express concern over the incident and to remind my friends to be more aware of risks;
No products were sold, and no commercial activity was involved.
I understand that in the face of disaster, respect and empathy are most important.
If my wording caused misunderstanding or discomfort, I sincerely apologise to all affected.
I respect every firefighter’s sacrifice and every citizen’s feelings, and I will handle future statements with greater caution. I offer my deepest condolences to every victim and their families, and apologise to anyone who felt hurt or misunderstood by the reports. Thank you for your understanding and tolerance.”
TVB later issued a statement distancing itself from Lam and condemning the misuse of tragedies for publicity. The broadcaster wrote:
“Recently, some online media outlets reported claims such as “TVB supporting actor William Lam takes advantage of fire disaster to promote insurance.” Our company hereby issues the following solemn clarification:
William Lam is not an employee of Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). Our company has no connection with him, and his actions do not represent the company’s stance.
Our company expresses deep regret over the related reports and strongly condemns any act of using major social incidents or unfortunate events involving others for publicity purposes.
Our company expresses its deepest condolences to the victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire and their families, and we urge the public and media to report on this extremely tragic incident with strict accuracy, avoiding any confusion between rumours and verified information.“
The company added that it strongly condemned any attempt to use major social incidents for publicity, reiterating that all matters involving loss of life would be handled with the utmost seriousness.
