BROADWAY star Lea Salonga confirmed that she and her husband, Robert Chien, have long been separated, saying both remain supportive of their son, Nic.
“It’s not a secret. We have been separated for a while. And now he’s happy. I am happy that he’s happy,” Lea said in an interview with TV5 entertainment broadcaster MJ Marfori, uploaded on TikTok on Jan. 21.
The 54-year-old Tony Award winner made the revelation while discussing her experience as a parent to a transgender child. Lea offered candid advice to both single people and couples about raising children with unconditional love.
“If you think your love will stop if your child comes out to you—don’t have children,” she said. “Children are not customizable. Every kid is a blind box.”
Lea described her son Nic as “wonderful,” sharing that he is now pursuing acting. She added that her background in musical theater helped shape her approach to motherhood.
“As a parent, I want my child to feel safe, strong, and ready to conquer the world on their own terms,” said Lea, who won a Tony Award in 1991 for Miss Saigon and voiced Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan.
Lea and Chien were married in January 2004. In April 2025, she publicly celebrated Nic after he came out as transmasculine, saying both parents have been “very accepting” throughout his journey.
