Leslie Cheung’s Boyfriend Still Misses Him 16 Years After The Hongkong Superstar’s Death

Sixteen years ago today (April 1), Leslie Cheung committed suicide by leaping off the 24th floor of the Mandarin Oriental in Hongkong. The death of the singer-actor, who was one of the biggest stars in Asia — on April Fools' Day, no less — sent shockwaves across the world, leaving his many, many fans devastated. His passing also shed light on how prevalent depression is in showbiz, and how the scary disease affects everyone, even beloved stars who seem to have it all.

Leslie, who would have been 62 this year, is still missed by his fans, his famous friends and especially his boyfriend Daffy Tong. To commemorate Leslie’s death anniversary, Daffy Instagrammed an old, never-been-seen-before photo of the couple in Europe along with this caption: “All the happy memories in the past, why not we go chase it together.” The line is taken from Leslie’s 1983 Cantonese hit ‘And the Wind Keeps on Blowing’.


 

Daffy and Leslie knew each other when they were still kids – Daffy is Leslie’s mum’s godson – but their friendship blossomed into love only years later. Leslie was 26 and Daffy, 24 when they became romantically involved and the couple stuck by each other through thick and thin until Leslie’s tragic passing.

 

Daffy posted this pic last December with the caption: “A Christmas from the past”.

 

On February 5 this year, Daffy uploaded this pic. “On the same day 19 years ago. Here’s wishing everyone good health and prosperity, he wrote.

Every April 1 since Leslie’s passing, celebrities have been posting tributes to the star, whose nickname was ‘Gor Gor’ or big brother in Cantonese. Leslie was not just well-loved by his showbiz peers but had also been an inspiration to the many stars who came after him.


 

She uploaded a video of her scenes with Leslie from the movies they worked on together. We spotted clips from classics like Days of Being Wild and He’s A Woman, She’s A Man.

The Hongkong actress shot to fame after starring in He’s A Woman, She’s a Man opposite Leslie and they had remained close until his death. This year she posted a video of one of Leslie’s songs, which featured her vocals. Shu Qi also reposted the same video.

 

She posted on Weibo a video titled “Thinking of You”, which featured clips from her 1999 short film with the late star who she was very close to. Ceci also wrote this very poetic caption: “The weather’s been good lately but it could be better. Flowers have been blooming more lately, but there could be more flowers. I’ve been through a lot of things lately, and will continue to experience them. It’s entering spring lately, and I like yet not like this season. I’ve been thinking about you lately, but I don’t think it’s just lately.”

The singer posted this photo with the caption: “April 1. Remembrance.”

The Chinese actress has always maintained that Leslie’s her idol and it’s clear she’s telling the truth as she has dedicated a post to him every year on his death anniversary. “It’s been 16 years, but you never really left. I’ve always been thinking of you. Hope you are well. Death isn’t the end of life, to be forgotten is. So many people still remember you, you can rest in peace,” she wrote this year.


 

“Uncle Leslie, you’re forever my Superstar!” wrote Karen.

Every year without fail on April 1, Leslie's fans would place bouquets and wreaths outside the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hongkong to remember their idol.

Leslie's Japanese fans would also fold 1000 paper cranes every year on his death anniversary. This year, they folded 1339 paper cranes with the extra 339 representing the car plate number of the vehicle the singer-actor used to drive.