Jackie Chan is a huge star in China and is vice chairman of the China Film Association, so it’s perhaps understandable that he doesn’t spend too much time criticizing the Chinese government.  But at a recent public appearance, he seemed, shall we say, oversupportive.

“I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not,” Chan told a business forum in the southern Chinese province of Hainan Saturday.  He went on to say that freedoms in Hong Kong and Taiwan made those societies “chaotic.” “I’m gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we’re not being controlled, we’ll just do what we want.”

Not surprisingly, his comments drew criticism pretty much everywhere except mainland China, where the government encourages its citizens to feel free to shut the hell up if you don’t have something pro-government to say.

“He’s insulted the Chinese people. Chinese people aren’t pets,” Hong Kong pro-democracy legislator Leung Kwok-hung told The Associated Press. “Chinese society needs a democratic system to protect human rights and rule of law.” Another lawmaker, Albert Ho, called the comments “racist,” adding: “People around the world are running their own countries. Why can’t Chinese do the same?”

Chan later attempted to clarify his comments, saying, “I didn’t mean to say ‘controlled’, exactly, I just meant that Chinese people need to be bound.  You ever tried to date a broad with big man-feet?  Shit’s gross, bro.”