Is Jackie Chan a Hero or a Villain? The Dual Sides of the Hollywood Star Spark Debate

A social media post is currently going viral for attempting to answer a question that has sparked much debate: why do people still like actor Jackie Chan despite numerous controversies? The central argument of the post is that “people separate the artist from the art.” It opens by citing the example of Kevin Spacey's films. Despite being married for over four decades, Jackie Chan fathered a daughter with another woman but maintained no relationship with the child. Once a vocal supporter of Hong Kong’s freedom, he later became a strong advocate of the Chinese government. Yet, the post points out that his martial arts and stunts in films are still considered exceptional and captivating. 

In 1989, Jackie Chan sang for the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre and openly wished for democracy in Hong Kong. But three decades later, he became a supporter of the Chinese government's crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement—a transformation the post calls disheartening. It reminds readers that believing actors to be heroes in real life just because they play such roles on screen is a delusion. In contrast, the post mentions actor Steve Buscemi, who was an actual firefighter and helped save lives during the 9/11 rescue operations. It concludes by stating that one cannot judge a person solely by their public image.