Former celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee recently stirred controversy after hosting two consecutive Facebook livestreams on May 13 and 14, reviving his feud with media personality Quan Yifeng and her daughter Eleanor Lee. In his streams, themed “Heartless Mother and Daughter,” he accused them of being ungrateful. Quan, who had stayed silent for years, finally opened up in an exclusive interview with Lianhe Zaobao on May 15, revealing why she chose to walk away despite earning S$400,000 through livestream sales in just three months during the pandemic.
Quan said this would be the only time she would respond; no matter what Addy says next, she’s not getting dragged into another public spat.
From Friends to Fallout
In his May 13 livestream, Addy acknowledged that Quan had helped him break into the television industry and rise to fame. He described her as “hot-tempered, but not malicious,” and recalled how their friendship soured during the pandemic. According to him, Quan gave him the cold shoulder during their joint livestreams, moved out of his house, and ended their collaboration — a decision that marked the breakdown of their friendship.
Addy explained that he was facing immense financial pressure at the time: his parents needed medical care, and his 10 salons were in financial trouble. Livestreaming was his last lifeline, which is why he saw Quan’s departure as a betrayal.
Quan: “Addy never told me he was broke”
Quan countered, “He had a $3 million home, a luxury car, and several assistants. He never told me he was broke or in a crisis.”
She recalled how it all began: “During the pandemic, I was working 14-hour days hosting shows. After work, I’d go home and livestream with him. In the beginning, he could barely sell a dozen bottles of chilli crab sauce a day. I lent him my 260,000 Facebook followers to boost visibility.”
Eventually, she even moved into his home so they could livestream together more efficiently, as COVID rules restricted visits unless one shared an address. For three months, she juggled her day job and overnight sales marathons — livestreaming up to 14 hours straight.
“I was exhausted to the point of collapse,” she said. “But that’s not why I left.”
“I Could Have Gotten Rich, But At What Cost?”
Addy claimed he made her S$300,000 in one month. Quan clarified: “It was S$400,000 over three months. That kind of money was like a windfall. He told me to quit hosting and just do livestream sales. But the more I did it, the more uneasy I felt.”
She began to worry that her credibility as a Mediacorp host was at stake. Supervisors had already started noticing. On top of that, Addy was starting to sell products of his own design, and she didn’t fully understand what she was promoting.
Her conscience kicked in when fans, out of loyalty, bought more than they could consume and formed Telegram groups to swap products. “I was so touched. But I felt like I had taken advantage of them,” she said. “I knew I could get rich if I kept going. But I didn’t want to be a scammer.”
“They gave me a second chance in life when I was down. I can’t hurt them like that.”
The Breaking Point
The day she decided to walk away, she stayed in her room, refusing to go live. Addy sent assistants to coax her out. When she finally appeared on camera with a dark expression, it created an awkward atmosphere, and Addy abruptly ended the stream. She and Eleanor then moved out of his home and left a farewell letter behind.
Quan added, “I declared all my earnings and reported everything to the company.”
Why She Stayed Silent for So Long
Back in 2020, the media had already caught wind of the rift, but Quan declined to comment. “I believe in parting on good terms. If we’re fated, we’ll stay friends. If not, we fade from each other’s lives,” she said.
On their once-close bond, she admitted: “Yes, I helped him, but it was just a small favour. He was hardworking and positive. It breaks my heart to see so many of his old friends distancing themselves now.”
As for how she feels about the fallout: “I’ve stepped away from the spotlight. People say ‘out of sight, out of mind’, but those around me now really love me.”
Addy Lee Claims He Received Threats
During his May 14 livestream, Addy said he received a threatening call warning him to “watch what you say, we know where you live in Thailand.” He suspects betrayal by a friend, since only a few people know his Thai phone number and address.
When asked if he was afraid of lawsuits, he replied confidently, “I’m not in Singapore. Come sue me in Thailand if you dare!”
