Legendary actor Jackie Chan has issued an update to his fans after concerns were raised regarding a recent photo.
As per reports, the popular 70-year-old was in attendance at an event last month when he was photographed on stage. Said image garnered plenty of attention, with the majority of commenters appearing to be of the opinion that the star had aged dramatically.
Used to seeing the high-flying, karate-kicking phenom leap about TV screens and show a remarkable resilience to the natural aging process, fans were shocked that Chan’s hair looked to be whitening.
In fact, some people were so surprised by his seemingly withered look that they couldn’t help but express their dismay. Certain individuals even pondered whether health issues might be at play.
One person wrote on X: “I can’t believe Jackie Chan has aged like to this extent.”
“Whaaaat? Jackie Chan AGED???” another added.
“Dude aged like 20 years in 5 years! Last time I saw him, he looked young!” a third quipped.
A fourth opined: “That’s crazy. Certain celebrities you can’t imagine aging. Their prime roles just stay with you. But I still think he can kick ass like the rest of them.”
Now, for the vast majority of us the fact that a 70-year-old man looks… well, his age, is nothing spectacularly surprising. Certainly nothing to take the time out of your day to comment over.
Yet there is something worth reflecting on when it comes to particular, much-loved celebrities and their journey through life beginning to take a noticeable toll. It’s almost like you never truly believe your favorite actor, singer, or entertainer will actually get old, making it all the more saddening when they inevitably do.
In any case, Chan was apparently paying attention to what people were saying about him, as he responded via a post on Facebook.
“To all my dearest friends and fans from all over the world,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Even before today, many friends have been reminding me: ‘Jackie, it’s going to be your 70th birthday!’
“Every time I hear this number, my heart would stop for a second – l’m 70 years old already? After recovering from the shock, the second thing that would come to my mind is a saying that my big brother, Sammo Hung once said: ‘being able to grow old is a fortunate thing.’ Especially for us stunt people, we don’t know how lucky we are to be able to grow old.”
Regarding the buzz surrounding his new look, Chan had an answer that might assuage the fears of some.
“Not so long ago, a lot of friends saw some recent photos of me on the internet, and they were all concerned about my health,” he wrote in the post.
“I want to take this opportunity to let everyone know, don’t worry! It’s just a character appearance for my latest movie. The character requires me to have white hair, white beard and look old.
“Over the years, I’ve always been willing to try new things for a movie, no matter if it’s a challenging stunt or a breakthrough appearance for a character. I’ve been in the entertainment business for 62 years and I cherish every moment because I’m lucky I’m still filming today.”
Here’s to hoping Jackie Chan sticks around to entertain us for plenty of years to come!