SINGAPORE: Martial arts icon Jet Li has firmly refuted persistent rumours suggesting he abandoned his first wife, former actress Huang Qiuyan, and their two elder daughters following his remarriage to actress Nina Li Chi in 1990.
Speaking in a recent interview on a web programme, the 63-year-old Romeo Must Die star clarified that his 1990 divorce from Huang, whom he wed in 1987, was entirely amicable and concluded on good terms.
Dismissing the long-standing abandonment allegations as "baseless", the action hero revealed that he walked away from the marriage empty-handed, leaving all his assets and real estate to Huang to guarantee her financial stability after the split.
The veteran actor further emphasised that he personally absorbed all the expenses involved in raising their daughters, Si and Taimi.
Expressing dismay over the lingering misconceptions, he questioned, "How could I have abandoned my own children?"
Li also paid tribute to his current wife, Nina—with whom he shares two younger daughters, Jane and Jada—crediting her with fostering unity and harmony across their blended family.
He noted that Nina fully appreciated the delicate role of a stepmother and treated all four girls with equal affection.
To secure Si and Taimi's future, Nina established a substantial trust fund when they were young, providing enough financial backing to comfortably support them for life.
She also acquired properties for them in both the United States and China, while actively encouraging the older daughters to look after their birth mother once they reached adulthood. According to Li, these thoughtful actions naturally cultivated a deep bond and mutual respect between Nina and her stepdaughters.
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