Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
The name Jet Li has become synonymous with brilliance, agility, and pure charismatic power among fans of martial arts and cinema worldwide. Beyond his breathtaking movies and jaw-dropping stunts, he also has an untold story about his rise from humble beginnings to becoming a philanthropic icon.
His journey began when he joined the Beijing Wushu Team at the age of eight. After his retirement from competitive Wushu at the age of 18, Li went on to establish himself as a renowned actor in China with his acting debut in the 1982 filmShaolin Temple.
Famous people have often been the subject of bizarre and fascinating stories throughout history, and Jet Li is no exception. The actor was once startled by an unanticipated and shocking incident during one of his earlier trips to the United States.
READ MORE:Despite Making Movies for Almost Half a Century, It Took 46 Years For Jet Li, Jackie Chan To Team Up For $128M Cult-Classic
Jet Li’s Unforgettable Hotel Room Experience In The U.S.
There were rumors thatJet Li‘s hotel room had been bugged during his first visit to the US in 1974. The actor was asked if there was any truth to these rumors during a 2003 interview with TalkAsia (viaCNN), and his response was startling:
“It’s true. At that time, China and America just started relationship between the two countries. It is so funny! When I went there I wanted to try they have a bug or not.”
He then began speaking aloud in front of the “mirrors” and expressing his desire for some chocolate and ice cream:
“So in New York, a big hotel, I talked to the mirrors say I want chocolate and I talked to the flower vase, I want an ice cream!”
He was surprised (and amused) when the sweets he wished for in his private room appeared by magic;
“So, next day …I opened the door, chocolates, ice cream, bananas…everything is on my table!”
Richard Nixon’s administration was discovered to have spied on political rivals using covert microphones, and the Chinese government was reportedly extremely cautious before sending the Wushu team on a tour of America because they knew they might be targeted for information.
They were so cautious, in fact, that they counseled the traveling team members to use extreme care in all circumstances, even in the privacy of their hotel rooms.
READ MORE:Keanu Reeves’ John Wick 4 Co-Star Donnie Yen’s Expendables Spinoff Idea With Jackie Chan, Jet Li Can Put Sylvester Stallone’s $789M Franchise Out of Commission
How Was Jet Li’s Meeting With the Then-U.S. President?
Jet Li is best known for his work in martial arts movies likeFearless,Romeo Must Die,Once Upon a Time in China, and many more. The actor, now 60, began training in martial arts when he was very young.
He was given the chance to perform in front of Richard Nixon, the then-President of the United States, at the young age of 11. The White House invited Li to perform a show for the 37th president of the United States with his Wushu team.
Li’s performance left Nixon speechless, and as a result, he offered to hire him as his bodyguard. The actor, who was quoted byYahoo News, penned the following in an essay about his youth:
“As I remember, President Richard Nixon stood with one of my female teammates. At one point, Nixon turned towards me and said, ‘Young man, your kung fu is very impressive! How about being my bodyguard when you grow up?’”
Nixon may have made this remark in jest to cheer up young Li, but receiving a job offer from the president is definitely impressive.
Jet Li’s recent film appearance was as the Emperor of China in Niki Caro’s 2020 American fantasy action drama film,Mulan.Along with Donnie Yen, Tzi Ma, Jason Scott Lee, Yoson An, Ron Yuan, and Gong Li, the movie also stars Liu Yifei in the title role.
You can streamMulanon Disney Plus.
Also Read:“you may beat me up. You can kill me. But…”: Martial Arts Titan Jet Li Has One Rule for Every Movie He Stars in – Is it Why He Left Sylvester Stallone’s ‘Expendables’?
Source-CNN;Yahoo News
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
