Before the Philippines’ Hayden Kho was Hong Kong’s Edison Chen. He has been at the center of Asia’s biggest sex scandal, but now actor Edison Chen has broken his silence on the public episode that has ended careers and caused him to face at least one reported death threat.
Internet sex photos of Edison Chen and starlets caused a huge media storm and fall from grace for many.
Talking exclusively to CNN on his return to Hong Kong, where he had been forging a career in the movies, Chen reveals his side of the scandal that broke in early last year when hundreds of sexually explicit photos of Chen with other celebrities turned up on the Internet.“There’s been a lot of talk through the past year and a half about this or that and a lot of rumors, a lot of hearsay, and I feel, you know, I’ve kept quiet just to kind of respect everyone and respect the law,” Chen told CNN.
A Hong Kong computer technician was sentenced to more than eight-and-a-half months in jail for dishonestly obtaining access to the intimate photos when Chen sent his computer in for repairs. But it is still unclear exactly how the images made their way to the web.
The photographs caused shock in Hong Kong and across Asia, with around 1,300 salacious images fueling front page news for tabloids for weeks.
There was also a huge public backlash against the 28-year-old who has been one of the rising young stars of Asia cinema. After the scandal broke, Chen, who admitted taking the photos, announced his retirement from Hong Kong’s entertainment business and fled to his native Canada.
Added to the media attention, Chen says he faced death threats. A bullet was sent to a TV station in Hong Kong earlier this year warning the entertainer to stay out of the limelight. While Chen issued his own apology for any hurt or embarrassment caused soon after the photos surfaced, he maintains he suffered as well.
“I believed I was a victim. I believed that I was hurt by this a lot. I believed that…I knew that I had nothing to do with the spreading of these photos,” he told CNN in the exclusive interview.
“I can’t say I didn’t do anything wrong. I’ve admitted that I was wrong, and I wouldn’t say sorry if I wasn’t wrong. But I also believe that at the same time that I wasn’t the perpetrator, and I had suffered a lot from this as well.”
Chen has suffered a spectacular fall from grace and some of the starlets in the photos have endured public disgrace in this culturally conservative region. For some, careers have been left in ruins.
Chen says he has not spoken to any of the women identified in the photos since the scandal broke. “Initially it was because I couldn’t find them. Secondly, it was because I didn’t really know how to approach and really what to say to be honest with you,” Chen told CNN.
Cecilia Cheung was one of the actresses identified in the photos and in a recent interview, she had strong criticism for Chen.
“I wasn’t allowed to talk to her in the initial because of the police request and they were investigating me…I had so much things on my mind,” said Chen.
“I’m not trying to say that that justifies any wrongdoing that she thinks I’ve done to her. But I hope that she can understand, and I hope that she can forgive me either today or one day, and she’ll understand that I had my difficulties, and I really, really never wished this to happen upon anyone, and I still respect her.” -cnn
Interview with mediacorp March 2009
Having been away for a year, I’m sure the public would like to know where you have been and what you have been doing.
Chen: I spend most of my time in the United States. I’ve also been flying around, visiting friends and learning new things. Besides being an actor, I hope I can produce and make my own film one day. Moviemaking is meaningful to me; it is an avenue for me to express my thoughts. I hope to achieve this in 2009 or 2010.
Will you cast yourself in the films you make?
Chen: Frankly speaking, I have never thought of returning to the camera front. I think I’m not ready for that. I hope I can do more businesses and charity work.
Which areas are you not ready for? Why?
Chen: Why? I’ve really never thought about it; I’ve been trying to find my true self in the past one year? Who is the real Edison Chen?
What is most important to Edison Chen?
Chen: I’ve been searching my soul in the past year. In fact I had been busy everyday in the past, without any time for myself. In the past one year, I’ve a lot of time to think about my future: what next? I think everyone has setbacks; I hope to find my own directions and learn from mistakes. Hopefully there will be a day when I can pick myself up from where I fell.
Can we say that at the time being, you have no intentions of returning to showbiz as a celebrity or an actor?
Chen: I’m still considering.
Have you started doing the charity work you mentioned or are you still planning for it?
Chen: I’ve started a fair bit with my own product brand. We’ve done some events in Hong Kong and also donated clothes during the Sichuan Quake last year. In fact, the money that I’m earning in Singapore this time round will be donated to a foundation. The entire sum will be given to a charity foundation. For the rest of the year, I will also be donating all my income to a charity foundation but have not decided which.
From what we understand, you have two major directions for your future now: 1. to make money from movies; 2. to do your bit for charity?
Chen: How should I put it? I have my own brand of apparel, my own shop, my own media company. I hope to earn money from these avenues; having food for everyday is sufficient for me now. In the past I hoped to have a big house and a fantastic sports car. But over the past year, I’ve found what truly matters to me: my family, friends, girlfriend and love. I’ve been very self-centered in the past when I was in showbiz, always thinking of my next move. Hopefully in future, there’ll be more room for others in my life.
You mentioned you have met many setbacks in the last 28 years of your life. Do you think you have been misunderstood at any point of time?
Chen: I believe everyone has been misunderstood in life. In the past year, I have been thinking about what I’ve done wrong and which areas could I have done better. Most importantly, youths can see me as an example; I hope to be a good role model by being selfless and focus on charity work. Albums and movies may be important, but there are other things which are in greater need for my attention. I hope to be a role model to my fans and influence them to engage in charity; look at what I’ve achieved instead of just listening to my music. A music album may be something for the future instead.
