When images surfaced of actor and martial artist Jet Li looking twenty years older than his actual age, fans began to worry. The photo began to circulate on the internet earlier this week. In the picture, a fan poses with Li, who smiles widely for the camera.
He looks visibly frail though, and the South China Morning Post reported on Saturday that fans were “praying for his health.” At the time, the actor was traveling in Tibet.
In 2013, Li revealed that he was living with hyperthyroidism as well as a heart condition. Hyperthyroidism can cause severe weight loss and fatigue, and Li stated that his doctor told him he could, “either continue making [action] films or spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.” The legendary martial artist has taken a step back from his acting career in recent years and uses his time philanthropically.
Since the picture began to circulate the internet, fans have been in an uproar about the condition of Li’s health. Speaking with The Washington Post, Li’s manager Steven Chasman said that it was just a bad photo of a 55-year-old. “He has hyperthyroidism that he’s been dealing with for almost 10 years. It’s nothing life-threatening and he’s dealing with it,” Chasman stated. “He’s all well and good.”