EchoVibe

Highlights

• William Hung, known for his unforgettable American Idol audition, divorced his second wife due to personal struggles with gambling.
• Hung admitted to making poor choices and getting greedy with sports betting.
• Despite facing criticism and being labeled a joke, Hung has remained resilient and is now happily married for the third time.

Few American Idol contestants have had the lengthy career that season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson has, but several have still made an impression. Sometimes, even someone who auditions for the reality music competition series becomes memorable, even if they aren't chosen as a finalist. That was the case with William Hung, who sang the Ricky Martin song "She Bangs" in 2004. The judges offered up some pretty harsh criticism of his singing and dancing.

While no one heard from William Hung after his big moment, he recently shared some updates about his love life. Hung has had some intense relationships since he tried to make his dreams come true on American Idol.

William Hung Divorced His Second Wife Because Of Personal Struggles After Auditioning For American Idol

In January 2024, William Hung talked about gambling in an interview with People. He shared that he and Jian Teng, his second wife, got divorced due to his problem. He said that after he was a statistical analyst for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, he decided to leave his position. He then began playing poker and making money, but things went downhill from there.

Hung made it clear that he got some help and support so he could stop gambling. However, this still affected his marriage, which is sad to hear about. According to People, Hung wrote a vulnerable post about his gambling problem on LinkedIn. He explained how this led to his marriage falling apart.

Fantasia Barrino's Net Worth Plummeted After Winning Season 3 Of American Idol, Here's Why

Hung wrote:

"Things went downhill fast when my ex-wife found out about you. I came home from work one day, and she started asking me all these questions about why I was so nervous about every sports game and why I was always tired ... How do you think that went — with all of the money I could have used to improve our life — gone? I'll give you a hint: it ended with her asking for a divorce."

Little is known about Hung's second marriage, although Nicki Swift reported that Hung married Teng in June 2004. According to Nicki Swift, he was once interviewed by People and said of his second wife, "She's a fantastic wife and I'm glad to have somebody to support me."

Hung also told People:

"I knew I was good at poker, but then I got greedy. I got into sports betting. The whole gamut. I know better [now]. I wasn't supposed to do those things, but I did it anyway. And I paid for it. I got divorced, and I learned I had to be smart about which risks I chose to take."

Who Were The American Idol Season 3 Finalists?

• John Peter Lewis
• Jennifer Hudson
• LaToya London
• Leah LaBelle
• Matthew Rogers
• John Stevens
• George Huff
• Amy Adams
• Camile Velasco
• Jasmine Trias
• Diana DeGarmo
• Fantasia Barrino (winner)

William Hung didn't share much more about his love life in his interview with People. He said that he was hoping to become a father, so fans at least know that he and Jian Teng didn't have any kids. While several publications call Teng Hung's second wife, the identity of Hung's first wife is unknown.

How Adam Lambert Amassed His $45 Million Net Worth Since American Idol

While dealing with a gambling problem is never going to be easy, William Hung has held his head high throughout the hard times in his life. It sounds like experiencing criticism because of his American Idol audition taught him some life lessons about looking on the bright side.

As Hung said in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2004, "OK, so I'm not famous for the right reasons. I'm infamous, a joke. It doesn't make me feel good, because I'm a genuine person, but I don't let it get to me, because I am who I am."

William Hung Got Married Again In 2023

According to People, William Hung got married again in 2023. A few months before the big day, Hung shared his engagement news on his Instagram account. However, while that was cause for celebration thanks to the struggles that Hung went through, people weren't thrilled when they read his social media post.

According to The Sun, Hung asked if anyone who followed him on Instagram would consider giving him some money for the wedding. He suggested a $2,000 gift card on Amazon among a few other things. As The Sun reported, some people saw this post and thought it was unfair to ask others to put money towards the wedding.

Ellen DeGeneres Really Didn't Like Getting Booed On American Idol

Hung wrote on Instagram:

"Hey everyone, I have some exciting news to share with you! I am getting married! That's right, the lovable American Idol contestant who captured your hearts with unforgettable performances is tying the knot with my sweetheart. As I prepare to start this exciting new chapter, I could use your support. That's why I am encouraging you to make a donation to my wedding registry. By doing so, you'll not only be helping to make my special day even more memorable but also showing love and support for my lifelong mission to help more people make their dreams come true.".

Fans can go to the Honeyfund.com wedding website for Hannah Du and William Hung, which notes that the pair got married in May 2023.

However, Hung definitely made an impression when he asked his social media followers to consider contributing to wedding expenses. While some people will ask if guests will give donations for the honeymoon instead of giving gifts, it's rare to ask followers to donate to a wedding.

While William Hung had an intense experience during his second marriage, it seems like he and his third wife have a joyful marriage today.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGiuoqScnq6ueceupaBlopq5osDIqKWsoJmleqW11aipnJ1dlrO1sdFmmKadop6worqMopuopF2otaZ5wZqloKtf