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Bruce Lee’s Mistress Reveals What Really Happened The Night He Died
Former Taiwanese actress Betty Ting Pei, now 78, explains why she did not call an ambulance immediately when the martial arts legend passed out in her home.
Ilsa Chan
25 Jul 2025 at 21:37
For decades, speculation has surrounded the sudden death of martial arts legend Bruce Lee.
He died in 1973 at just 32 from cerebral edema, a swelling of the brain.
The tragedy shocked the world. And when the media uncovered that Bruce had died in Taiwanese actress Betty Ting Pei’s Hong Kong apartment, and exposed their secret affair, she became the subject of intense public scrutiny.
Bruce was married to Linda Emery and they had two kids, Brandon and Shannon, then eight and four.
Betty hid in her home, too afraid to go out, and later had to flee in the middle of the night to escape reporters.
Recently, Betty, now 78, made a rare appearance on TVB programme Ctrl+F The Truth on which she shared what really happened that fateful night and addressed rumours that have dogged her for half a century.
Speaking about their relationship, Betty said it was Bruce who wooed her.
“He was incredibly charming. The whole world loved him, wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t? He liked me and felt we were fated [to be together]. Maybe beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Even if others didn’t think I was attractive, he did,” she said.
Revisiting the night Bruce died, Betty said Bruce arrived at her home at around 5pm and two hours later, he complained of a headache.
She gave him a painkiller, and he went to lie down in her room to rest before their dinner plans with Golden Harvest boss Raymond Chow and some overseas friends.
When Raymond called later, Betty tried to wake Bruce but he was unresponsive. She immediately phoned Raymond who rushed over.
When he arrived at 9.45pm, he too failed to wake Bruce.
They called Betty’s personal doctor and it was only then that an ambulance was summoned to take Bruce to the hospital.
When asked why an ambulance wasn’t called sooner, Betty explained that Raymond had told her to wait for him to get there.
“Bruce had fainted before, but we didn’t know about that,” she said.
“[Bruce] had his own doctor. Raymond Chow did what he thought was right. Who would’ve thought his doctor couldn’t be reached? My doctor was just next door at the Baptist Hospital, so we called him instead. Who would have thought Bruce would die? It was after the doctor came that he said [Bruce] was in danger. No one expected death.”
When news of Bruce’s death broke, Betty initially denied that he had passed out at her home. She claims she did so at Raymond’s instructions.
“He said it was what [Bruce's] family wanted. What was I supposed to do, go against them? I respected their wishes,” she said.
Betty admitted she was more shocked than sad when she found out Bruce had died.
In the years that followed, wild rumours swirled. Some accused Betty of giving Bruce poison. Others claimed he had taken an aphrodisiac known as “Spanish fly”.
“I didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry,” she said. “I’ve never even heard of that in my life. Of course, the world was jealous of me, I was the only one who had Bruce Lee. I didn’t even want to have him, but I ended up with him.”
The official cause of death was brain edema possibly triggered by an allergic reaction to medication.
Betty said both she and her mother had taken the same painkillers without issue.
“Even if he really died because of those painkillers, there is nothing we can do. I didn’t invent them. Why do people insist on blaming me?” she asked.
The incident left Betty traumatised.
“Whenever I see someone sleeping, I would check if they’re dead — even now. But I think Bruce Lee had a peaceful passing. To die in your sleep is the best way to go,” she said.
Betty suffered from schizophrenia, received death threats, and at her lowest, life felt worse than death.
“Everyone wanted me dead. But I told myself why should I die? If I died, people would think I was guilty and committed suicide out of shame. But I did nothing wrong. I walked upright and had nothing to hide. I have to live on and repay him. He believed in me, so I must be true to myself,” she said.
Betty was blamed for giving Bruce the painkiller that caused his death.
Photos: Sinchew, TVB
