TVB actor Mat Yeung was sentenced to 18 days in jail last December after failing to overturn the reckless driving charges pressed against him. Photo: Mat Yeung/Instagram
Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung, who was sentenced to 18 days in jail last December over a DUI conviction, has opened up on how much his life has changed after his release.
In a recent interview with Hong Kong’s Oriental Sunday magazine, Yeung revealed that he has been the target of verbal attacks despite being a free man since Jan 7.
“One of the most unforgettable moments (after being released from jail) was getting called ‘prisoner’ by a random stranger on the street,” the 42-year-old said, adding that he received many negative comments online too.
Despite the attacks, Yeung made it clear that he does not feel too affected by those comments as it was “my punishment”.
“I can’t control what others say. If they feel happy after saying what they said, then just let them keep talking.
“What’s done is done. This is my punishment. I shouldn’t waste time crying over things that I can’t fix and try to face life positively.
“The most difficult time (in prison) is already over, so I will move on to more positive things in the future,” the TVB actor said.
Yeung went on to reflect on his prison stint, saying that the first two days were the hardest as he couldn’t get used to the uncomfortable environment.
He added that he faced many troubles sleeping as the lights in his cell were switched on 24 hours a day.
“The sense of guilt is the worst torment inside, there’s no one to talk to you and only the four walls, nothing to express your emotions," he told Hong Kong media in January.
Mat Yeung has thanked his Malaysian girlfriend, actress Lisa Ch'ng, for her unconditional support. Photo: Lisa Ch'ng/Instagram
During the interview with Oriental Sunday, Yeung said he will learn from his mistakes and also thanked his family and Malaysian girlfriend, actress Lisa Ch’ng, for their unconditional support.
When asked if he ever thought of breaking up with Ch’ng to protect her, the actor responded no.
“For the past three years, she has supported me and helped me fend off the media and distasteful comments.
“She did a lot for me, and I will forever be grateful to her for it. Not every girl can do this, and she never left my side.
“I will look after her for as long as I live. Things would’ve been a lot harder without her,” he concluded.
Yeung was arrested in August 2020 after crashing his car in Mid-Levels, Hong Kong and was found guilty of reckless driving in November 2021.
The actor’s appeal was overturned a year later and he started his jail sentence on Dec 22, 2022.
