A heartwarming video featuring beloved Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, and incredible stuntman Jackie Chan and his daughter has taken the internet by storm. The clip featured the renowned martial artist and what appeared to be his tearful daughter as they shared a sweet moment while watching some of his old stunts together.
Fans were quick to shower praise on the touching display. However, the curtain was soon lifted, and it was revealed that the scene was not in fact a real-life family interaction. Instead, it was an excerpt from Chan’s latest film Ride On.
Just as the internet began to swell with collective “aws” and “family goals,” the truth emerged like a plot twist in a Hollywood flick. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Chan’s real-life daughter, Etta Ng Chok-lam, made some shocking claims that suggest her relationship with her father is anything but picture-perfect.
Despite being a beloved figure among nostalgic gen Zers and netizens alike, it seems that behind Chan’s warm and friendly appearance lies a sad tale of family estrangement. As reported by the SCMP, Etta previously admitted that she and her father had a falling out over her being gay, claiming that their relationship deteriorated to the point where she was left homeless and had to sleep under a bridge.
Amid the whirlwind of speculation, fact-checkers on Twitter emerged as our valiant heroes to confirm that Chan’s relationship with his daughter really is far from perfect, despite what the viral clip would have you think.
One user tweeted, “The fact that not only is that an actress in a movie and not his actual daughter, but also the news of him estranging his real-life daughter for being lesbian is certainly something, huh.”
Another chimed in, exclaiming, “Finding out Jackie Chan disowned his daughter because she was gay, and she’s been living on the streets homeless ever since while he’s worth $400 million was not on my 2023 bingo card…” Yeah, we didn’t have it on there either.
One can’t help but marvel at the complexities of celebrity lives and the ever-shifting sands of truth. From a viral video that turned out to be a movie scene to the intricate dynamics between Chan and his daughter, it’s a stark reminder that reality doesn’t always align with the silver screen. We sincerely hope that the actor can address his alleged internalised homophobia and that the pair can reconcile soon.