Businessman Martin Lee Ka-shing has filed a defamation and harassment lawsuit at the Hong Kong High Court against actress Chrissie Chau Sau-na, five YouTube channels—including “Smart Travel”—and Google LLC.
Read more: Martin Lee files defamation and harassment suit against Chrissie Chau, denies any ties
Lee said in a statement that Chau sparked false rumors about him for nearly 10 years, allegedly to promote herself and her films. He emphasized that he has never met Chau and has no relationship with her.
The statement said fabricated stories and videos have circulated across Chinese-language media, social platforms, and YouTube, sometimes involving unrelated women in the rumors.
Lee said he had repeatedly asked Google via lawyers to remove defamatory content from YouTube, but no action was taken. With no other viable options, he said he had to take legal action against the channels and the platform to clarify the facts and stop online harassment.
Lee has not previously filed lawsuits or publicly responded to false reports, taking a “clear conscience” and “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. But he said his silence allowed others to exploit the rumors repeatedly for attention and online traffic.
“These incidents have seriously defamed me, placed heavy pressure on my family, and damaged our social reputation,” he said.
Lee also criticized the channels and Google for allowing false information and AI-generated videos to circulate, saying it fuels a harmful online bullying culture that negatively affects society and future generations. He said legal action was necessary to hold Chau, the YouTube channels, and Google accountable, restore his reputation, and set the record straight.
