Rising stand-up comedian Bun Hay Mean, a leading figure in the fight against anti-Asian racism, has died

By The New Obs with AFP

Comedian Bun Hay Mean, who starred in the film "Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom," died this Thursday, July 10, in Paris, according to concordant sources, after falling from the top of a building.

The 43-year-old actor embarked on a one-man tour, "Kill Bun," in Amnéville near Metz on April 26, with dates scheduled until May 2026.

"It is with infinite sadness that we must announce the tragic passing of our friend, our immense artist, Bun Hay Mean," announced his producer, Philippe Delmas, in a press release, confirming information from "Le Parisien ."

"According to the information we have, it was just before he left, and while trying to retrieve his phone which had fallen into the gutter of his balcony, that Bun slipped and fell several stories," he added.

For its part, the Paris prosecutor's office indicated that it had opened an investigation into the causes of this death.

Bun Hay Mean, born to a Cambodian father and a Chinese mother, and who grew up in the Bordeaux region, became known for a show called "Chinese Funny" , which earned him his nickname. In 2014, he joined Jamel Debbouze's Jamel Comedy Club.

His last appearance in the cinema dates back to 2024, with "The Goats!" , alongside Dany Boon and Jérôme Commandeur .

With a punchy, scathing style and plenty of self-deprecation, the comedian has repeatedly used personal experiences to address social issues. His shows have covered a variety of topics, such as mental health, homophobia, and everyday racism, particularly against Asian communities.