Malaysia’s anime, comics and games (ACG) community is mourning the death of one of its members after he spoke about personal and career struggles during a livestream.
Solomon Freeman Looi, 39, who was known online as Soloman Freeman, went live on Facebook at around 3am on Sept 15.
He spoke for about half an hour about a legal dispute he said he had been involved in years ago, claiming that although he was eventually proven innocent, the experience had caused him significant mental and physical stress.
Looi also alleged that a former friend had spread false rumours about him, which he said resulted in him being shunned by others. During the livestream, he maintained that he was innocent and claimed the person involved had since admitted to sexual harassment and publicly apologised.
He also discussed financial and relationship problems, despite claiming to have a net worth of RM70 million (S$21 million).
Looi said he had financially supported several women, including one whom he claimed he gave RM1 million but who later cheated on him. He also said he had paid college tuition fees for other women who later “suddenly vanished”.
He described his six-year relationship with another woman as his final “breaking point”, claiming that he had given her millions of ringgit, two houses and a Lamborghini before she allegedly cheated on him.
Toward the end of the livestream, Looi spoke about feeling completely alone and said he had made up his mind. He then signed off from the broadcast.
The livestream prompted hundreds of comments from concerned netizens who expressed worry about his wellbeing.
At 3.38am, Looi made another Facebook post containing the words “Good bye”.
Malaysian police were alerted at about 4.43am after Looi was found dead. He is believed to have fallen from a height.
China Press reported that he was believed to have fallen from around 20 storeys. Preliminary police investigations found no suicide note, and investigations are ongoing.
Tributes have since been shared online, with members of the ACG community highlighting Looi’s contributions to Malaysia’s ACG scene.
