According to QQ, the charitable activities of the famous actor have long been a subject of controversy. The funds and methods of charitable giving often raise many questions, particularly regarding the significant shadow cast by the industry on these philanthropic efforts. At the same time, there are numerous celebrities whose reputations have been affected due to their charitable work, such as Donnie Yen, Stephen Chow, Jet Li, and Tony Leung.
In China, Tony Leung is famously known as the “King of Charity.” The actor established a charity fund named after himself early on and has also conducted numerous meaningful charitable activities, receiving commendations from the public. In 1988, he founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation to support underprivileged individuals in Hong Kong through difficult circumstances. After many years of operation, the fund began to expand its scope to include various areas such as medical care and disaster relief… However, there have been times when Tony Leung’s name has been tarnished due to persistent controversies surrounding his charitable endeavors.
Specifically, in 2009, Tony Leung produced and starred in the movie Police Story: Lockdown. During a visit to a school that had been destroyed due to an earthquake in Sichuan, the actor expressed deep sympathy and donated the entire amount earned from the film to rebuild the school.
Due to Tony Leung’s goodwill, many audiences flocked to theaters to watch Police Story: Lockdown and to support charitable causes, resulting in the film grossing 153 million RMB (approximately 529 million USD). However, approximately a year later, the director of the film announced that he had not received any contributions from the famous star. After that, Tony Leung’s side claimed that he still had not received the revenue from the film. Nevertheless, the situation has severely impacted Tony Leung’s reputation.
After that, the media reported on Tony Leung’s charitable activities in a program. The actor shared that he started doing charity work out of goodwill, and he did not want to appear as a benefactor. The management suggested that Tony Leung should take advantage of his public persona to gain more recognition, thus enhancing his reputation. However, despite the contributions, Tony Leung only contributed a nominal amount, which was due to the reluctance of his team to disclose the contributions.
“When I hear people talking about me, I feel very uncomfortable because I just want to be a good person. The management said I should contribute more, so I feel like I am becoming a different person,” he said.
Furthermore, according to QQ, in the future, Tony Leung will frequently organize events to promote charitable causes to various organizations and charitable foundations. QQ suggests that this is a move with strategic intent. “The 10 million RMB that he donated to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake was a gesture of goodwill, but his reputation has been affected,” QQ wrote.
According to QQ, many celebrities engage in charitable activities primarily to enhance their public image and elevate their status. However, the increasingly critical public perception of charitable efforts has raised eyebrows regarding the integrity of the industry.
In 2012, a blogger revealed detailed accounts and exposed the charity activities associated with Tony Leung, indicating a lack of transparency. Specifically, the charity fund, Youth Charity Fund of China, only allocated 1 million RMB (approximately 3.5 million USD) for operations, while a staggering 18 million RMB (62 million USD) remained unaccounted for, transferred to Tony Leung’s fund.
This is a blatant violation of regulations, with the aforementioned operations resulting in Tony Leung receiving 10% reportedly labeled as “administrative expenses.” The act of withdrawing funds has severely tarnished Tony Leung’s reputation as the “King of Charity.” Although Tony Leung’s side has defended him, the public remains skeptical about the transparency of the fund.
Not only is there an issue regarding transparency in charitable funds, but Tony Leung remains a star with significant fame. In his autobiography, the actor admits to being extravagant, often hosting lavish parties and associating with various beautiful women.
The greatest trouble in Tony Leung’s life was his relationship with actress Ngô Tĩnh Lợi and his daughter Ngô Trác Lâm. Although he lived in luxury with a fortune in the hundreds of millions of USD, Tony Leung could not provide for his daughter, forcing her to live in difficult conditions in Hong Kong or Canada.
Therefore, in 2023, when Tony Leung performed in the movie Spirit of the Dragon, discussing the intimate relationship between father and daughter, audiences felt a sense of melancholy. Many commented: “Outside, he’s a celebrity, but on screen, he’s just a good father.”
Currently, in China, Tony Leung’s name no longer attracts audiences. Recent works such as Hidden Strike, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Bad Guys, and Spirit of the Dragon have all failed. The actor has reportedly earned over 260 million USD in the past six years. However, in July, his project Legend of the Dragon also failed to sell tickets, incurring losses of over 330 million RMB (approximately 110 million USD).
