| "Leslie is the type who could relate only good news, not bad ones. Regretfully, in his eyes, I was his younger sister. He was afraid that I could not handle it. Did not want to worry me, did not even let me know that he was sick. He just told me that he had gastric problems and was not feeling well. Later, I heard from others that Leslie was unhappy and had problems with his moods. But I really did not know that his situation was this serious. I have tried many methods to contact him, but I still could not find him. He never returned my calls. I wrote a card to him, writing down plenty of things that I wanted to say to him. I just wanted to tell him, how much I cared for him" "Last year, after I finished with my concert in Hong Kong, I continued to prepare for my concert tour. At that time I was unhappy about my work and hoped very much to be able to confide him. I became a little angry with him, I just wanted to talk to him, but he ignored me. Now, I know, he didn't want to add pressure to my life, so he did not tell me. If only I had pressed on, and made him talk to me. Things may not turn out this way. I had not done enough." The two words Anita most wished she could tell Leslie is "Thank You." The day I began to prepare from my 20th anniversary concert, Leslie without prompting told me he would appear as my special guest on the last night of the concerts. His words were like a booster to me, gave me a lot of encouragement. That concert run was really difficult. I gritted my teeth through each obstacle. Maybe I expect too much from myself, giving myself a lot of pressure. On the last night, I really wanted to share with him. That day when he came, he was already not feeling well. He said that he had gastric pain. But when he stood on stage, the audience could not even feel that he was unwell. After the performance, he left early. I never got the chance to say "Thank You." |
Regarding Leslie's death, Anita sadly said : "I feel more than pity and regret. Those days when he just left, my heart hurt so much I could not utter a word. It's as if I have aged by 10 years. I kept asking god, why did this happen? My mind continues to be filled with question marks. My friends and his friends were afraid that I could not handle it, kept me company through this period, asking me to take care. A lot of people used other avenues to ask after me, this made me feel that there is warmth in this world." Anita not realizing the seriousness of Leslie's illness is filled with regret. She blames herself, and feels guilt in not caring for Leslie enough. |
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| Grief and Guilt Ridden Anita Mui Talks about the Paparazzo's Role in Leslie's Depression Ming Pao -Hong Kong Translated by Nicole Tan Anita Mui: Leslie's soul sister both personally and in the entertainment biz was so shocked by the popstar's suicide, she refused to eat and cried uncontrollably. For past twenty years they ruled Hong Kong's Entertainment world, and went though thick and thin together and separately. Anita's close friends so worried that she was not thinking straight, took turns to keep her company -constantly consoling her. Only after sending Leslie off at the funeral, did she begin to feel calmer. At midnight last Friday, she accepted the exclusive interview from MingPao. Her reasons to do so was to ask the entertainment papers to: "Please, be Just to Leslie's Memory." |
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| Anita still feeling the enormous grief of losing her friend, put on a brave face for the Ming Pao's Interview. She wanted to stand up for Leslie, "I hope that everyone would be a little more fair to Leslie. The situation now is very bad, Leslie's death adds on to our grief, but please do not put the blame on him." "If not for his illness, I believe he definitely would not have chosen this path. He was always a supporter of beauty. There is no way he would wreck himself. He had an ill demon that controlled him. In his last days, no one knew of the suffering and pain he was going through. None of us were able to share his sorrow and pain, so please do not throw in a kick after his death. Let's be truthful to ourselves, what would we do if we were the one being sick?" "Actually, we should face this in a positive way. Leslie's departure is a signal to all of us that patients must always be cared for. Leslie reminded us that we should care more about the people around us, should treasure our family and friends more." |
| "When he was alive, Leslie always gave 200% to his work. He contributed a lot to society. He truly lived his part as an artiste. Yet the paparazzi never let up, never let go, always hounding him. He always acted as if he didn't mind, but personally, he really did. "Depression is not something that you get in a day, it is cumulative. And certain parts of the media is responsible. In his will he stipulated certain media organizations would not be allowed to participate. Professionally, the artists and media are like lips and teeth, they go together. So why did it become the way it is now? When Leslie was alive, they pestered him, after his death, they still did not let go of him. Those people who treat Leslie this way, aren't they afraid that Leslie will come after them in the dark hours? I hereby urge Leslie's fans to boycott those publications. Do not bother with them, save your money for worthwhile press." "For many years, I have refused to be interviewed by those organizations. In the future, when I hold press conferences. They are barred. If they turn up, I will ask them to leave. Do not blame me for being mercilessness. I hereby urge fellow artistes to boycott them as well. Let's see how they can survive without the support of the artistes?" |
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| It's evident to everyone around them that Leslie doted on Anita very much. I (the journalist) remembered in 1985, during Leslie's first concert, Anita was the special guest. He told me then that the arrangement was not the record company's idea but his. "We are good friends, and she will have her own concert in the near future. I felt that there should be an opportunity for her to gauge the audience's response. To a singer, this is like a stabilizing pill. When I heard the audience's applause for Anita, I told myself, "Anita, you will be fine."" After I related this incident to her, Anita said, "He and I are good partners, good pals. 20 years ago, we started from scratch as "Capitol Artiste". I just know that when he was around, I would feel more relieved, when I was around, he would feel more relieved. At his first concert, I would worry about him. I always felt better when I was his guest. |
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| "Hand in hand, we braved through many difficult times together. Whenever I was unhappy, and cried in the room, he would coax me, and I would be all right. Whenever he was unhappy, I would hold his hand. We gave each other support." When they started out, they often traveled together in the economy section of the airline. "We sat at the last row. We would lift up the seat handle and lay down to sleep. He slept on the seat, I would sleep on the base of the seat. We would take turns to sleep. On those days, we encouraged and cared for each other. No matter how difficult those times were, we would still not feel tired. |
| "When we slept in hotels, the bedrooms have an adjoining door. Once in New York, we stayed in the place where the environment was quite bad. Half way through the night, a black drunkard barged into my room. I got so scared I started screaming and Leslie came over to protect me. We would lie in bed chatting all night." "A lot of people think I am very tough. Only in front of Leslie that I can completely be myself -be a girl. No need to pretend to be gung-ho. This is because he is there to protect me. He is really my brother who dotes on me a lot." Anita suddenly brings up Danny Chan, (another singer who started with them, who died of a cocaine overdose ten years ago.) "Danny was like my younger brother, needing my protection." With Leslie, "We had similar problems with our family. Whenever we are unhappy, we very seldom tell our mothers. He understood me more than my family did. I would tell him everything. Even my boyfriends have to be vetted by him. If he thought that the person was good, I would feel more relieved. If he said "so-so", I would deduct points off that guy." Later, Leslie left Capitol Artiste and his workload became heavier. For a few years, they contacted each other less. "I thought he suddenly forgot about me and I felt hurt. Later when we got back together and spoke about those times, I realized that no matter where he was, he had always placed me in an important corner of his heart. And it was the same for me. He is forever my brother, our relationship was so closed that ….." She hesitated, "Anyway, it's not something that you could express in two or three words. He had stamped a mark in my heart." "I know he does not wish to see me in this state, he would worry. If he has too many worries and cannot forsake this world, it would be difficult for him to reincarnate." "In order for him to rest in peace, I will be strong." |
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| May You Two Meet Again Soon. Anita Mui Passed Away on 30/12/2003. Goodbye Anita |