Jackie Chan Admits He Was Too Harsh as a Father to Son Jaycee

Key Highlights

• Jackie Chan admits his overly strict parenting strained his relationship with son Jaycee Chan, saying it created fear rather than respect.
• The 71-year-old actor reflected on his regrets while promoting his new Chinese film Unexpected Family.
• Jackie says age and experience have changed his outlook, with a renewed focus on his son’s happiness and safety.

Martial arts legend Jackie Chan has spoken openly about the strained relationship with his son, Jaycee Chan, acknowledging that his harsh parenting style played a central role in driving a wedge between them.

Jackie Chan Reflects on Regrets Over ‘Strict Father’ Approach to Son Jaycee

Speaking while promoting his latest Chinese film, Unexpected Family, the 71-year-old actor said a reconciliation scene between a father and son at the end of the movie struck a deeply personal chord. The moment Jackie revealed, prompted to reflect on his own past mistakes as a parent and the emotional distance that developed between him and Jaycee.

“For a long time, I believed that a strict father raises a filial son,” Jackie said, admitting that he now sees that mindset as deeply flawed. “I was wrong. Education shouldn’t be like this.”

‘I Only Created Fear,’ Jackie Says

Looking back, Jackie said his approach to fatherhood was shaped by constant criticism rather than encouragement. He acknowledged that he rarely offered praise and instead publicly scolded his son, even during television appearances.

“In the past, whenever I saw my son, I scolded him,” Jackie said. “Whenever I went on television, I criticised him. There was never a kind word,” as reported by CNA.

He added that his behaviour did not inspire discipline or responsibility, but fear. “I should have given him more freedom instead,” Jackie said, conceding that his rigid expectations ultimately pushed Jaycee away.

A Growing Emotional Distance

Jackie also recalled how the tension between father and son worsened over time in small but painful ways. Jaycee, he said, used to call him once a year to wish him a happy birthday. However, after Jackie rebuked him and told him not to limit calls to special occasions, those birthday calls stopped entirely.

The actor described this moment as emblematic of how his words and actions, often delivered without reflection, gradually eroded their bond.

“It was only when I got older that I realised how wrong I had been,” Jackie said, noting that age had softened his outlook and forced him to reassess his priorities as both a father and a person.

A Shift in Perspective With Age

Today, Jackie Chan says he no longer forces expectations on his son or measures his life against rigid standards of success. Instead, he hopes Jaycee can live peacefully, safely and on his own terms.

“I don’t demand anything from him anymore,” Jackie said, adding that his role now is simply to support rather than control.

The shift marks a significant change for the globally renowned actor, who for decades built his public persona on discipline, endurance and self-sacrifice. Values that, he now admits, do not always translate well into parenting.

Jaycee Chan’s Career and Setbacks

Jaycee Chan, the only child of Jackie Chan and Taiwanese former actress Lin Fengjiao, followed in his parents’ footsteps by entering the entertainment industry. He appeared in several films and television projects and also released music albums in the early stages of his career.

However, his professional trajectory was severely disrupted in 2015, when he was sentenced to six months in prison in Beijing for drug-related offences. The conviction marked a major turning point, both personally and professionally, and significantly reduced his presence in the public eye.

Since his release, Jaycee has largely stayed out of the spotlight, appearing in only a handful of projects. These include the 2016 action comedy Railroad Tigers, which starred his father, and the 2021 romantic comedy Good Night Beijing, which he directed.

A Rarely Seen Vulnerable Side of Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan’s candid remarks offer a rare glimpse into the personal struggles behind his public image as an indestructible action hero. His reflections resonate beyond celebrity culture, touching on broader conversations about parenting, generational expectations and emotional communication.

By acknowledging his mistakes publicly, Jackie has presented a more vulnerable version of himself, one shaped not by physical resilience but by emotional reckoning.