Jackie Chan responds to his teenage daughter coming out as gay
(Gareth Cattermole/Getty)
The daughter of martial artist and actor Jackie Chan came out as gay last month.
Etta Ng took to Instagram to tell the world that she is a gay, posing in front of a rainbow coloured background.
The daughter of Chan and former Hong Kong beauty queen Elaine Ng had struggled with her sexuality for a long time.
She previously attempted suicide on more than one occasion and spent time in hospital.
The 17-year-old said: “I encountered many events that could have broken me, but in actuality, you strengthened me.
“You are my everything and more. I love you, my princess. Let’s celebrate our nine-months of happiness together.”
But recently she has come to understand her sexuality, taking to Instagram to share: “In case no one got the memo, I’m gay.”
The revelation was followed by the hashtags “#lgbtqai, #lgbt, #lesbian, and #androgynous”.
Etta was born following an extra-marital affair, and her father Jackie has never been very involved in her life.
Asked about his daughter coming out as a lesbian while promoting his film The Foreigner, the martial arts star simply said: “If she likes it, that’s fine.”
Chan, who has appeared in more than 150 films, also has a son, actor Jaycee, with his wife and former actress Lin Feng-jiao.
The news was largely welcomed in China, with online commentators writing, “Happiness is all that matters!” and “Support the ability and freedom to love.”
China’s communist government has worked to ban LGBTQ themes in film and broadcast media, but the country’s growing number of vocal millennials are more supportive towards LGBT rights.
Examples of acceptance at the ground level have come to be covered by local media outlets in recent years.
The teenager, who reported her mother to police over a domestic disagreement last year, is thought to be living with social media influencer Andi Autumn, 30, a Canadian based in Hong Kong.
On Instagram, Andi shared a photo of herself next to Etta, with the caption: “I’ve never met anyone like @stolenmilktea.
“She has given me a chance to fully express the running thoughts in my head. No judgements, just understanding. Everything was against us.
“We’ve been pushed down again and again but it’s worth it knowing we will get through it together, side by side. skip past all of the difficulties we’ve had this year, we are finally heading in the right direction, we have a path.”
