CBS News reports that Jackie Chan, the Hong Kong action/comedy star of movies such as Rush Hour 1 and 2, has been publicly urging Asians to avoid American movies for fear that it will dilute or otherwise damage traditional Asian culture:

Even though he plans to soon start shooting “Rush Hour 3,” the Hong Kong native told The Times of India newspaper “Asians should unite against American cinema.” Hollywood movies are eroding the culture of Asian countries, he said. “Why do we need to ape their culture,” Chan reportedly said. “I see an Indian saying, ‘Yo Man!,’ but that’s not what Asians are about.”

That’s a pretty interesting set of statements from someone who has benefited greatly from American movies himself, not to mention someone who has received mixed reactions from Asians and Asian Americans about the quality of the roles in his Hollywood movies and to what extent they are a positive step forward for non-stereotypical portrayals of Asians in American culture.

It seems to me that if he really wants to put his money where his mouth is, he should use the millions of dollars that he’s earned through his American movies and start producing his own films that include more positive portrayals and images for Asian and Asian Americans to see. Otherwise, his position strikes me as a little hypocritical.