'No longer the person we used to know': Jensen Huang loses his shine in birthplace Taiwan

Jensen Huang, now the former Nvidia CEO, had been widely adored like a rock star in his birthplace, Taiwan. That image is now tainted after the FBI began an investigation into his affair with an alleged Chinese agent.

Like the rest of the world, the island was shocked by the scandal over Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman reportedly described as a Chinese spy by U.S. officials. A video of the pair visiting a restaurant in the capital city of Taipei in 2025 went viral and was broadcast globally.

Jensen Huang resigned on Thursday after facing growing calls to do so because of the affair. His troubles compounded late Wednesday after media reports said Huang had another extramarital affair with an Nvidia employee who reported to him.

The 63-year-old poster boy for the artificial intelligence revolution was born in Taiwan and spent his early years there before he moved to the United States for his schooling. He regularly visited Taiwan for business events.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks to the media as he attends a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and U.S. business representatives, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 14, 2026. Photo by AP

Jane Hsieh's tofu pudding shop was one of many restaurants and stores in Taipei that proudly displayed photos of Jensen Huang visiting their premises. Hsieh, 70, was shocked by the dramatic headlines and felt deep regret for him, saying Huang used to have a near-perfect public image.

She wondered whether people would still be as warm to him as before if he returned to Taiwan again.

"If he comes into my shop again as a customer, I’d be fine, but I think it would be awkward because he’s no longer the familiar person we used to know," she said. "I’d be polite to him, but my feelings toward him would be different."

Resident Jeff Huang, 72, noted some customers were already suggesting the removal of Huang’s photos in shops.

"He used to be very popular, but after his personal moral scandal and allegations of corporate espionage came out, he instantly fell from grace," he said.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI is investigating Jensen Huang's affair with an alleged Chinese government agent. But Trump said he spoke with Jensen Huang and believes he "had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy."

Huang has acknowledged he had an affair, issuing an apology to his wife and to the company in an open letter posted on Nvidia’s website. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence determined that the woman was gathering information for Beijing.

Beijing has rebutted claims that Alice Huang was a Chinese spy, calling the allegation "unsubstantiated."