A week after his son was detained on drug charges in in Beijing, actor Jackie Chan is finally speaking out, saying that the incident has left their family "heartbroken" and that he is ashamed and saddened over his son's actions.
The "Rush Hour" actor released a statement on his website Wednesday, thanking his fans for their support and well wishes during this difficult time. He also took the opportunity to apologize on his son's behalf - hoping that others learn from his mistakes.
Jaycee Chan, 32, was detained on Thursday after police found him with more than 100 grams of marijuana. He tested positive for marijuana and confessed to using the drug. If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison, according to the Associated Press.
"First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for your care and concerns," the actor wrote. "The recent news about my son, Jaycee, is very shocking, and the impact it has caused on society is heartbreaking. When I first heard the news, I was absolutely enraged. As a public figure, I feel very ashamed; as his dad, I'm very sad and disappointed. But the person who feels heartbroken the most is his mom. I hope our younger generation will learn from Jaycee's mistake and stay far away from drug abuse."
The 60-year-old actor, who is known for his action movies in both China and the United States, said he believes that his son should suffer the consequences for his actions. In 2009, Chan become an anti-drug ambassador for China.
"I would like to take this opportunity to say to Jaycee: you've done something wrong and you have to be responsible for the consequences," he wrote. "I'm your dad and I'll always be with you. We will face the road ahead of us together. I should also take some of the responsibility because as his dad, I didn't teach him well. Therefore, on behalf of Jaycee and myself, I extend our deepest apologies to everyone for the negative impact this has caused on society. Thank you"
