Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, who was known as the “father of hybrid rice” and helped save millions from hunger with his work, passed away last Saturday (May 22) at the age of 90.

A funeral for the national hero was held in Changsha last week and reportedly drew tens of thousands of mourners from across the country, including Hongkong actor Alex Man, whom Singaporeans know best from classic Mediacorp drama The Golden Pillow.

According to reports, the 63-year-old, who was wearing a dark suit and holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums, was easily recognised by sharp-eyed fans even though he was wearing a mask. As soon as someone approached him, he would quickly pull down his mask and greet them with a friendly smile.

However, it appears his pleasant disposition may have rubbed some the wrong way. When a video of Alex giving an interview at the funeral was released, he was criticised for “disrespecting the deceased” ‘cos of the big smile plastered on his face.

Fortunately, a group of more level-headed folks quickly jumped to his defense, saying that there is no need to read so much into things.

They also pointed out that Alex set a good example by making a trip down to the funeral to pay his respects in person, instead of merely posting a tribute on social media like so many other celebrities and influencers.

Other reactions to the recent clip of Alex were centred on his looks, namely, how “unrecognisable” he has become. Yup, more age-shaming incoming.

Some media reports and netizens zeroed in on his “receding hairline”, “greying hair roots”, and “face full of wrinkles”, which were all said to make him look “obviously much older” than before.

“He looks a lot skinnier and older,” wrote one user, while another confessed, “If no one said that this was Alex Man, I wouldn’t have been able to recognise him at all.”

Photos: 万梓良经纪人-周行/Weibo, Sohu, IMDb