Jackie Chan hits back at 'sensationalist' media reports on his natural disasters comments

Jackie Chan has hit back at what he described as “sensationalist reporting” over his recent comments that he wished countries should experience natural disasters more often, while social media reacted with great disdain but little surprise over his gaffe.

“How could anyone like to see natural disasters?” Chan told Tencent Entertainment over the phone. “What I meant was I want everyone to rally together, to protect and defend each other.

“I don’t know why my meaning was distorted in this way, but I don’t care, [because] people who know and understand me will realise this. For those who like sensationalist reporting, nothing I say will make a difference.”

Hong Kong celebrities also voiced their support. “I believe the comment was not from his heart. It is not rational, right?” actress Carina Lau told The Apple Daily, adding that sometimes “we all misunderstand Jackie Chan”.

Chan has earned a reputation for verbal blunders in the past. Most famously, he once said that Chinese people “need to be controlled”.

Film star Eric Tang gave a more measured response to Chan’s remarks, saying Chan “has problems expressing himself and doesn’t realise when there’s problems. He’d be better off communicating by kung fu”.