It's a tribute, not an ad, says Bruce Lee's daughter

Speaking exclusively to the South China Morning Post, the late kung fu legend’s daughter Shannon Lee said the much criticised Johnnie Walker Blue Label advert was intended to be a vivid way to pay tribute to her father.

“I don’t think that it’s about selling booze,” Lee said.

“To me this was a way to pay tribute to my father and in particular his philosophy, and to do it in an interesting way with the use of technology,” said Lee, who was a consultant of the ad’s technology and her father’s philosophy – told by a highly realistic animated version of the Enter the Dragon star.

The ad drew criticisms from fans, who were condemning it for its “bad taste” in associating the non-drinking Bruce Lee with whisky. They also criticised the ad, which was premiered on the mainland and circulated online, for featuring a Putonghua-speaking Lee.

“The alcohol was never on-screen with him. It’s like Johnnie Walker sponsoring a mini film about Bruce Lee. That’s the way we saw it. I don’t have the ability to fund a mini film made with such advanced CG technology.”