Tuesday, April 21, 2009

WTF, Jackie Chan!

Celebrities need to learn how to keep their mouth shut. Stay far far away from politics. Stick to safe topics like fashion, crazy vegan diets, absurd baby names, their hate and love relationship with the paparazzi, and whether mom jeans and gladiator shoes are in or not (I really want to know!).

The most recent victim of his own big mouth is Jackie Chan. I grew up watching his movies. He reminds me of my dad a little. I was glad that he was able to transition to American movies and achieve success here. I stuck by him while he was learning the language and when he made corny jokes on The Tonight Show. But I can't defend him when he says dumb things.

On April 18, 2009, at a business forum in Hainan, a southern Chinese island, Jackie Chan was asked whether the Chinese “need to be controlled." He should have politely said "no comment." Instead, he gave a nonsensical response that landed him in hot water. He said, "I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not. If you're too free, you're like the way Hong Kong is now. It's very chaotic. Taiwan is also chaotic." He added, "I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want."

WTF!

I'd like to believe that he didn't mean anything by it and really didn't know what the hell he was talking about. But Jackie Chan, what were you thinking? He offended so many people...I mean a whole friggin' race and the most populous country in the world. Again, WTF! Lawmaker Albert Ho said it right, calling the comments "racist" and saying "[p]eople around the world are running their own countries. Why can't Chinese do the same?" Jackie Chan's spokesperson said that the comments were taken out of context and Jackie Chan was really referring to the entertainment industry in China. Yeah...nice try...

3 comments:

Laura said...

Wow. I'm most stunned you used WTF.. twice!
Ya know, when I see that, in my mind I actually say the words. So in my mind you were obscene!
Jeez, Tara. At first I thought nothing of it, because I see that every two seconds, but Tara?! You! Using online acronyms? What's next? FML?!

Tara said...

Yeah, I am actually saying it aloud in my head when I write WTF. What can I say? I am vulgar. Also, what is FML? I really don't use acronyms...I am a noob.

Laura said...

It's F My Life. It's become a huge thing, because a FML website. It's kinda like Twitter, people just write a short thing about something terrible/weird/funny that happened to them that day then put FML after it. check it out. FML.com i guess. I never actually visited it, my friends just read me the good ones sometimes. I'm not that loserish.