HONG KONG, Apr 19 (AP) -- Taiwanese model Lin Chi-ling, one of the Chinese-speaking world's most popular stars, drew a rare media backlash when she delayed a news conference for hours, Hong Kong media reported Tuesday.

Lin was scheduled to meet the press before hosting an advertising awards ceremony Sunday evening but she arrived too late and skipped the news conference, the Ming Pao Daily News reported.

Organizers of the awards ceremony, Asia Television, persuaded Lin to talk to the media later in the evening, but angry reporters rejected the offer and shunned Lin _ usually a media darling, the report said.

Asia Television official Yip Ka-po said Lin was late because of heavy traffic and that she wanted to focus on preparing for the show when she arrived, Ming Pao reported.

But Lin's agent, Fan Ching-mei, told the Apple Daily that the ceremony's organizers were to blame. Fan reportedly said Lin arrived on time but that the start time of the show was bumped forward.