The now-infamous “unicorn hero”, who sent Hong Kong executive councillor Regina Ip flying during a Lunar New Year ritual last week, has broken his silence.
After being hunted by the press since Friday’s much-shared incident at the Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, 45-year-old Tse Lap-yuen was finally tracked down by Apple Daily yesterday.
The interior designer and part-time “qilin” (mythical unicorn-dragon thing) has been touted as a “hero” by Hong Kong netizens who were much amused when a hip shimmy in his dance saw Ip blasted to the side and very almost knocked over completely.
Ip gamely went on as if nothing had happened, but thankfully all the fun was caught on video.
Tse insists that the incident was a complete accident, adding that nothing like this has ever happened in his 30 years of performing the dance.
He admitted it was difficult to see who was around him, but suggested Ip, who apparently wasn’t even invited to the event, did not position herself ideally.
The executive councillor said on her Facebook page yesterday that she does not hold anyone responsible, adding that she “was somewhat amused that the accident provided so much mirth and entertainment to the community.”
Incidentally, Tse said he was flooded with so many messages of congratulations that his phone broke, and the qilin now has its own Facebook page.
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