It’s a tale of two sides of the Strait last week as the big scandal from last summer 2014 came to an end at nearly the same time for the two major participants involved. It’s nearly six months since the August 2014 shocking Beijing drug arrest of Taiwanese actor Kai Ko and Hong Kong actor Jaycee Chan, better known as legendary martial arts star Jackie Chan’s only son. The two were swept up in China’s crackdown on drugs, an initiative started by PRC President Xi Jin Ping as part of his nationwide tightening of various laws and initiatives all aimed at righting public behavior.
Kai got off easier of the two, having been charged only for using marijuana and given a two week administrative detention before being released and kicked out of China. Jaycee was charged with the more serious offense of drug distribution, a crime that carried the specter of the death penalty in no-nonsense draconian drug law China. This past week Jaycee’s sentencing trial was held publicly as he admitted to the drug distribution, apologized for his misconduct, and vowed never to touch drugs again. He was given a small monetary fine and a six month sentence with credit for time served which means he’ll be out next month in early Feb in time for lunar new year. Kai coincidentally also returned to the limelight last week while attending his first public event as a spokesperson for a bag brand that retained him as a model.
Kai continues to look happy and healthy and never shies away from answering the media’s questions about his drug arrest, rehabilitation, determination never to use drugs again and be a role model for his fans, and in general his slow return to his entertainment career. Jaycee probably has less of a career to return to and also a steeper uphill climb to return to the public’s good graces. At least the his eventual sentence doesn’t seem overly harsh even by Chinese drug sentencing guidelines, and really let this be a lesson for anyone wanting to live and work in China without abiding by its drug laws. It’s not an argument over personal beliefs in which recreational drugs are safe to use, this very public sentencing trial was clearly intended to hammer home the point that “live in China, follow Chinese laws, otherwise get out and smoke your weed somewhere else.”
Well, that’s a much lighter sentence than I would have expected from Chinese courts on the use of illegal drugs. It’s just a smack on the hand really. I guess having a powerful daddy and lots of connections help.
I really wonder what would have happened to “ordinary people” in the same situation,
Right? Jaycee doesn’t even look stress out in those trial photos. He knew he was getting a lighter sentence due to his father’s connection.
Father has trouble with women, son has trouble with drugs. Good luck to Kaiko, and Jaycee.
Well said maymay.
They do need the luck, hope their careers survive
damn, Kai Ko’s PR Team is good.
His stylist oth…
I still what GJM will do for Kai Ko is part in Tiny Times 4 (the movie).
Nothing better than a bad boy turned good! Can’t wait for more Kai Ko <3
Why does Jaycee have such a bad rep? i had a bad pov of him because of media and i thought he relied on connections, but i recently saw Mulan and thought he did pretty good as Xiaohu. better than a ton of idol actors nowadays anyway.
maybe its the public expecting more from him for being his father’s son. having your dad as jackie chan must make it harder rather than easier to be trained and given a chance without bias.
dont be so quick to judge on appearances. if i knew that my trial was going to be public and photographed i would spruce myself up too. either way, he’s never gonna win: look too good or look too haggard
I think a large part of it is because Jackie himself always talks disparagingly about his son and his son’s achievements. Though that (plus the fact that Jackie was such a horrible father) has won Jaycee some sympathy too.
Honestly, I still think Kai should’ve took the time to serve the army (1 year), since he still has to later on… This would’ve been a good time to.
People often did something wrong when they were young. We should not blame Kai a lot and give him a chance to turn over a new leaf.