Martial arts legend Jackie Chan faced more than just on-screen battles during his rise to global fame. In a surprising revelation, Hong Kong director Wong Jing disclosed that Chan endured repeated physical assaults from an obsessive female fan and concealed his marriage for years out of fear of fan backlash.
Speaking in a recent interview about behind-the-scenes moments from the 1980s, Wong recounted how Chan, then at the height of his popularity in Japan, was slapped on three separate occasions by the same woman.
"She disguised herself each time just to get close enough to hit him," Wong said. "She believed slapping Jackie would make him remember her forever."
Despite the public embarrassment and personal violation, Chan reportedly chose not to press charges against the woman, opting instead to quietly endure the harassment.
In a separate disclosure, Wong revealed that Chan kept his marriage to Taiwanese actress Joan Lin a secret for many years, primarily due to concerns over extreme fan reactions.
"He lived in constant fear that obsessive fans might harm his wife or react violently to the news," Wong said.
Chan, now 71, married Lin in 1982, though their relationship was kept out of the public eye until the late 1990s.
Wong also reflected on the tragic story of Andy Lau's longtime obsessive fan, Yang Lijuan, whose obsession reportedly led to her father's suicide after he sold their family home and a kidney to fund her attempts to meet Lau.
"These stories show the dark side of extreme fandom," Wong said. "Behind all the applause and cheers, stars like Jackie and Andy paid a heavy personal price."
Chan's spokespersons were not willing to comment on Wong's disclosure.
The actor, who appeared in blockbusters like "Rush Hour" and "Police Story," has shielded chiefly his private life from public view throughout his decades-long career.
While Chan's career has been marked by box-office success and international acclaim, Wong's account sheds light on the lesser-known struggles he faced behind the glamour — and the extreme measures he took to protect his family.
