Recently, renowned actor Jet Li responded to discussions about autism through a video, admitting to his own mild autistic tendency due to becoming famous at a young age and developing a fear of crowds and social interactions. He mentioned that engaging in charity work has been a crucial way for him to overcome his autism tendencies and become more willing to communicate with others. In a humorous response to external criticisms, he said, “I’m not pretending to be a grandson, I am a real grandson.”
In the video, Jet Li candidly admitted, “I should have a mild form of autism.” Recalling the challenging years after gaining fame, he described a starkly different celebrity life from the public’s perception – being constantly surrounded by fans everywhere he went, demanding autographs and photos, which gradually made him lose touch with his true self.
“After becoming famous, you will find that you lose yourself. You can’t even eat peacefully on the street because everyone surrounds you,” Jet Li described the dilemma he faced at that time. In public settings, he had to maintain a perfect smile and politeness at all times, fearing any slight misstep would result in accusations of bad attitude, causing him to feel suffocated by this invisible pressure.
What pained him even more was the dilemma of facing fans’ expectations. “If someone asks for an autograph, and you’ve signed for 50 people, the remaining 10 people would be disappointed.” Seeing someone disappointed in this situation would throw him into panic, leading him to choose to actively avoid crowds.
In Jet Li’s observation, actors endure more complex psychological pressures compared to athletes. He believes athletes only need to exert their full efforts on the field and can return to being their authentic selves in their downtime, whereas actors even outside of work must “wear a mask” in daily life, continuously maintaining a public image.
The ongoing state of performance left him exhausted, prompting him to deliberately avoid media interviews and crowded places. “I’m especially unwilling to accept media interviews, unwilling to go where there are crowds. Besides filming, I refuse to go anywhere with crowds,” he confessed, acknowledging the severity of his autistic tendencies.
The turning point in Jet Li’s life came after he immersed himself in charitable endeavors. He expressed that engaging in charity work stemmed from a genuine desire to contribute to society, a sense of mission that compelled him to actively communicate and engage with others.
To promote the One Foundation, Jet Li began actively seeking support from all sectors. “At that time, I asked all my friends in the entertainment industry, and I also asked Yao Ming, Liu Xiang if they would come and help promote the One Foundation.” In the process of advocating for charity, he was pleasantly surprised to find himself no longer entangled in personal gains and losses.
Jet Li stated that this gradual change allowed him to overcome his social fears and regain his ability to communicate with others.
In response to previous criticisms from the public, Jet Li offered a candid and humorous reply. Regarding accusations that he was “pretending to be a grandson,” he stated, “I’m not pretending, I am a real grandson.”
In Jet Li’s perspective, engaging in charity work has transformed him into someone more willing to communicate and open with others.
According to public records, Jet Li was born in Beijing in 1963 and is a martial artist, director, and producer. He started his martial arts career at the Beijing Wushu Academy in 1971 and won the National Wushu Championships in 1975 before retiring due to injury in 1979. His notable works include “The Shaolin Temple,” “Swordsman II,” “Fearless,” “Unleashed,” “The Warlords,” and “The Forbidden Kingdom.” After starring in “Mulan” in 2018, he has not had any new works released.