6-7-2023 (HONG KONG) Jackie Chan, the renowned film star, has been criticized by fans on social media for reportedly disowning his openly gay daughter, Etta Ng Chok Lam. The controversy surrounding the 69-year-old actor began after a viral video clip from his new film, Ride On, surfaced, showing him portraying a loving father. However, as details about Chan’s strained relationship with his actual daughter emerged, public opinion turned against him.
Users took to social media platforms to express their disappointment and criticism towards Chan. One user stated, “Jackie Chan disowned his actual daughter for being gay,” while another called him a “horrible father” and vowed never to support his work again.
The scene from Ride On depicted Chan in the role of Luo Zhilong (Lao Luo), a retired stuntman and film star. In the emotional sequence, Lao Luo watches a montage of his career alongside his on-screen daughter, Xiao Bao (played by Liu Haocun). The heartfelt exchange between the characters moved many viewers initially.
However, discussions surrounding Chan’s personal life led to the revelation of his strained relationship with his daughter Etta. Etta is Chan’s daughter from an extramarital affair he had in 1999 with beauty pageant queen Elaine Ng Yi-lei, despite being married to his wife, Joan Lin, since 1982. Reports suggest that Chan ceased communication with Ng upon learning about her pregnancy.
Etta, who publicly came out as gay in 2017, has previously spoken about her estrangement from Chan. In a YouTube video in 2018, she revealed that she had experienced homelessness due to conflicts with her “homophobic parents.” Etta and her wife, Andi Autumn, expressed their struggles, including sleeping under a bridge and being rejected by shelters.
While Chan addressed his shortcomings as a father in his book Never Grow Up, where he admitted to apologizing to his wife and son Jaycee, he has not publicly addressed his relationship with Etta. The situation has left many disappointed with the actor and sparked a broader conversation about acceptance and parental support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
