Huang Yiliang vs chicken rice seller: Ex-actor says no plans to relocate stall, hopes to establish boundaries with neighbouring hawker

Despite a spat with his neighbouring hawker, former actor Huang Yiliang, 64, said he has no plans to relocate his stall as business was stable.

However, he hoped that boundaries could be established between the parties involved.

Huang opened a seafood hawker stall at Circuit Road Hawker Centre in February 2026.

On May 7, a video emerged online in which he was seen in a squabble with his neighbouring hawker, who runs a chicken rice stall.

The spat appeared to be centred around rumours of Huang and his assistant "sleeping" together.

Huang explained that he simply offered to let his assistant rest at his residence near the food stall.

Tensions escalated again on May 10, with Huang allegedly being hit from behind on his right ear by the husband of the chicken rice hawker.

He was conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and discharged that same day.

Establish boundaries, go about own business: Huang

Speaking to Lianhe Zaobao, Huang shared that on May 10, the chicken rice hawker had yelled at him and made rude gestures.

"I heard her scolding me, so I wanted to reason with her. But who would know that as soon as I stepped out of my stall, her husband would strike me behind my right ear," Huang said.

He estimated that there were about 10 people in the queue for his stall that day.

When asked about whether he was considering closing the stall or moving elsewhere, Huang said that business was stable at the moment.

He also said that he cannot find a more suitable location at this point and therefore planned to continue doing business at Circuit Road.

"Now, I only wish to establish boundaries with the other party and go about our own business," Huang shared.

He cited a Chinese saying, suggesting that change is the only constant in life.

"Whether our relationship will get better in the future, it's hard to say," he continued.

Chicken rice hawker has had run-ins with others

Numerous hawkers told Zaobao that the chicken rice hawker involved in the spat with Huang has also had run-ins with other hawkers in the past.

One female hawker said, "I've been operating here for 40 years, while the chicken rice hawker moved here about 10 years ago. I understand that she has a straightforward character, so I won't be offended."

She added, "Huang also has a straightforward character, so as soon as there are difficulties communicating between the two, it's easy for there to be friction."

The female hawker also shared with Zaobao that the chicken rice hawker once had a disagreement with the adjacent satay stall hawker about smoke coming from the stall.

A cleaner at the hawker similarly said that the chicken rice hawker was straightforward.

The cleaner shared that the chicken rice hawker would sometimes have particular preferences regarding how their crockery was collected, such as how it was arranged or cleaned.