Zhang Lan, the ex-mum-in-law of the late actress Barbie Hsu, has been criticized for hosting a live shopping stream broadcast on her death anniversary.

Zhang, the stepmother of Hsu's ex-husband Wang Xiaofei, did a live stream with over 9.3 million viewers, according to Newsen citing Taiwan's Liberty Times.

The broadcast hit 286,000 peak concurrent viewers and more than 1 million yuan (around $150,000) in sales.

It was mass reported by viewers, resulting in Zhang's broadcast only going for 1 hour and 14 minutes despite its commercial success.

For that, critics slammed her as if she lacked sensitivity and was taking advantage of the sad news.

In response to the backlash, Zhang said: "Whether it's good-looking or not, it doesn't matter. I also have 7,000 employees under me — as long as I work for some money that goes into my vain pocket — hell, I am free to eat fat. They cannot eat if I do not do broadcasts."

Barbie Hsu's mother-in-law, Zhang Lan, has become embroiled in the controversy surrounding her daughter and her unwanted son-in-law, the South Korean singer Koo Jun-yup.

In 2022, following Hsu's remarriage with Jun-yup, Wang Xiaofei accused his ex-wife of having affairs and domestic problems, which Zhang further elaborated in her streams.

Zhang tried to strike a more conciliatory tone after Hsu's shock death on Feb 2 from pneumonia while on a trip to Japan. "Do not say bad things about her," she said. "Barbie Hsu is always family," she added.

Zhang also offered to help with the funeral arrangements. People added that the sudden personality change didn't fit with the image that drew so many fans to her, the same way it doesn't with Wang Xiaofei.

Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei married in 2011, divorced in 2021. Hsu was granted custody of their two children.

Hsu also made headlines in Taiwan and South Korea last year when she got back together and married her first love, Koo Jun-yup, whom she had dated two decades earlier.

In a post dedicated to Barbie Hsu, Koo Jun-yup said, "I am heartbroken at the death of Hsu. I am experiencing unnameable agony and grief. I do not have the strength to talk, nor do I want to."

As per VnExpress, he also spoke about Hsu's inheritance, saying he would leave the matter entirely to his mother-in-law and that he would ensure that Hsu's children's rights were legally protected.