International action star Jet Li has responded to longstanding allegations that he abandoned his first wife, former actress Huang Qiuyan, and their two daughters following the breakdown of their marriage.
The 63-year-old actor addressed the controversy during a recent interview on an online programme, describing claims that he walked away from his family without fulfilling his responsibilities as baseless.
Li married Huang in 1987, and the couple welcomed two daughters, Si and Taimi, before their marriage ended in divorce in 1990. He later married Hong Kong actress Nina Li Chi in 1999, with whom he has two younger daughters, Jane and Jada.
According to Li, his separation from Huang was amicable, and the pair parted on good terms. He disputed the narrative that he abandoned his first family, maintaining that he left the marriage without taking their assets for himself.
The Romeo Must Die star said he transferred his assets and properties to Huang to provide her with financial security. He also maintained that he continued shouldering the costs associated with raising their two daughters after the divorce.
Questioning how he could be accused of abandoning his children, Li defended his commitment to their welfare despite the end of his first marriage.
Li also credited his current wife, Nina, for helping foster a harmonious relationship among all four of their daughters.
According to the actor, Nina understood the challenges associated with being a stepmother and made a conscious effort to treat Si and Taimi with the same consideration as her own children.
He revealed that Nina established a substantial financial fund for his two older daughters when they were young. Li said the money was sufficient to provide them with long-term financial security, even if they eventually chose not to work.
He further stated that Nina purchased properties for the older daughters in the United States and China.
Li explained that Nina also encouraged Si and Taimi to become independent and, when they were financially capable as adults, support their biological mother using their own earnings.
He believes these gestures helped strengthen the bond between Nina and her stepdaughters, contributing to a more united family.
Questions about Li’s first marriage and the circumstances surrounding its breakdown have followed the actor for years. His relationship with Nina, whom he met while working in the film industry, has also featured prominently in discussions about his personal life.
His latest comments offer his own account of the divorce and the responsibilities he says he continued to fulfil as a father.
For the martial arts icon, his message is clear: the end of his first marriage did not mean the end of his responsibilities towards his older daughters.
Source: The Star / Asia News Network
About the Author
