Quan Yifeng Cried While Talking About How Dasmond Koh Stood By Her During Her Taxi Driver Altercation Scandal In 2010

As the host of Hear U Out, Quan Yifeng, 47, has guided many of her celeb guests to open up about the tough times they've been through. And safe to say, they all get really emotional on the show.

In this week’s episode, which featured her longtime pal Dasmond Koh, 49, it was Yifeng who got all sentimental as she revealed how the NoonTalk head honcho had stood by her through two of the lowest points of her life, namely her 2009 divorce from 53-year-old actor Peter Yu, and when she got into an altercation with a taxi driver in 2010.

“Dasmond is a very caring person (…) When I was on the brink of divorce, he told me to think carefully [before making any decision]. When I wanted to go his place [to seek refuge] after my divorce, he said, 'You sure? You still have to go back home later.' I told him that I felt awkward at home and so he conceded and told me to go over, said Yifeng, who then joked that when Das let her stay at his place, it gave her ideas that something might happen between the two of them.

He let me sleep in his room and I thought, 'Okay...' (laughs). But he was just worried that I was emotionally unstable, continued Yifeng. When I stepped into his room after my shower, he was already sleeping on a mattress on the floor (guffaws). He was guarding the door 'cos he was afraid that I would sleepwalk and cause trouble outside (laughs).”

Yifeng also revealed the three closest people to her in showbiz: Guo Liang, Bryan Wong and Dasmond.

“Guo Liang has seen me through many stages in life. [When I was contemplating divorce], he told me to either accept what had happened and continue with my marriage or file for divorce, and not to overthink things. Bryan is the one who laughs and cries with me. Dasmond is the only person who has walked by my side all the way. Once he agrees to help you, he will hold your hand and walk by your side regardless of what’s going to happen.”

Das proved his loyalty to Yifeng a few months after her divorce. In 2010, she got into an altercation with a taxi driver, the case not only made headlines for months, it also turned Yifeng into a persona non grata. She was eventually sentenced to 15 months' probation after pleading guilty to mischief.

“I was in Mauritius when the taxi case blew up, and I didn’t know that it became such a huge scandal, said Yifeng. [Dasmond] called me and bombarded me with questions, like, ‘What did you do? How could you…’ Five or six days later, I returned [to Singapore] and the airport was filled with media waiting for me.

Nobody dared to be associated with me at that time. I was desperate. Dasmond called me when I was in Mauritius and asked, ‘Is [your daughter] Eleanor [Lee] with you? Don’t let her get affected by this. You just got divorced and now this! When you arrive at the airport, follow the person who helps you with your luggage. Summon your courage and walk out of the airport; I’ll be waiting there, said a suddenly emotional Yifeng as she wiped away her tears.

I left the airport and saw Dasmond waiting for me, the photos that were taken by the reporters were all of Dasmond's car with me inside and him shielding my daughter's face, she said, adding that for that one year before her sentencing, it was Dasmond and Kym Ng who stood by her.

Dasmond, who was listening pensively, said: “I’m not sure if it’s because of how I grew up. Many times, you want to do certain things but there’s nobody there to guide you (…) What really happened, and why it happened… Nobody was able to say for sure. As an artiste, everything you do becomes a bigger issue when it’s reported by the media [and] I feel that we should stand by each other, especially when you’re friends.”

“Many years ago, I watched a movie with this lesson: pay it forward. It affected me very deeply and I feel that it’s a lot more meaningful than expecting to get rewarded for what you do for someone. For example, you come to me when you need help. To me, that’s a huge reward because you’re telling me that I’m needed.”

To watch Dasmond and Yifeng's chat in Hear U Out, click here for part 1 & here for part 2.

Photos: Mediacorp, Dasmond Koh's Instagram