‘God Is Not Sleeping’: Singer Reedzwann Shares Journey of Resilience After Tragic Accident and Online Abuse
Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Malaysian singer-songwriter Reedzwann has opened up about his year-long hiatus from the music industry following a traumatic accident in 2024 that resulted in the death of a female friend.
- The incident deeply affected his mental and emotional state, leading him to isolate himself in his hometown in Perak and withdraw from public life.
- Reedzwann endured intense online criticism and personal attacks during his absence but chose silence, believing it would allow the situation to de-escalate, and now shares his journey of recovery and resilience.
In Malaysia, the music scene is abuzz with the candid revelations of young artist Reedzwann, who has broken his silence after a year-long absence following a devastating accident. Utusan Malaysia reports on the singer-songwriter's courageous sharing of his personal struggles, including the loss of a close friend in a 2024 incident that profoundly impacted his career and well-being. This period of withdrawal saw Reedzwann, whose real name is Muhamad Khairol Ridhuan Khairol Husni, retreat to his family home in Perak, shunning the spotlight and grappling with severe emotional and mental distress.
My life changed drastically. If I used to be very active, cheerful, and could be called 'hyper,' I became quiet.
Reedzwann describes a drastic shift in his personality, transforming from an energetic and cheerful individual to someone withdrawn and introspective. He felt lost and empty, necessitating a period of self-imposed isolation to heal. This decision meant cutting off contact not only with the industry, including his management and fellow artists, but also significantly limiting interactions even with his own family. He emphasizes that this extreme measure was a personal necessity for recovery, a way to create space for self-care when he felt unable to cope with the pressures of his burgeoning career.
Finding the spirit again was not easy. What happened had a significant impact on my mental state. I felt empty, lost.
The artist also bravely addresses the intense online criticism and personal attacks he faced, with some even questioning his right to live. These hurtful comments, particularly those directed at him during live TikTok sessions, led him to cease his online presence. Reedzwann explains his strategy of silence as a way to avoid fanning the flames of negativity, likening it to adding fuel to a fire. While acknowledging the support he received, he felt the overwhelming tide of negative comments drowned it out. This experience highlights a harsh reality often faced by public figures in Malaysia, where the line between constructive feedback and vicious personal attacks can become blurred, especially on social media platforms. Reedzwann's story, as told through Utusan Malaysia, underscores the importance of mental health awareness and the resilience required to navigate personal tragedy and public scrutiny.
For me, people's words hurt the most. Some asked me, 'Why didn't you just die?' Imagine a question like that.
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.