Did Jet Li "Abandon" First Wife For Nina Li Chi? Here's His Side Of The Story

For more than three decades, martial arts legend Jet Li, 62, has carried the stigma of allegedly “abandoning his ex-wife”, former Chinese actress Huang Quiyan, for '90s screen goddess Nina Li Chi.

Now, his longtime friend, film producer Tiffany Chen is speaking up on his behalf, offering what she says is the real story behind the controversial split.

In a recent video, Tiffany pushed back against claims, insisting that Jet did not walk away from his first marriage free of responsibility — but rather, with nothing to his name.

“He didn’t abandon his ex-wife. He left with nothing,” she said, adding that at the time of the divorce, Jet gave up his house and car, and took “not a single cent” with him.

Jet and Qiuyan met as wushu students at the Beijing Shichahai Sports School and married in 1987.

The couple had two daughters, Si Li and Taimi Li, now 38 and 37, respectively, and Qiuyan reportedly gave up her acting career after tying the knot.

While filming Dragon Fight in 1989, Jet met Nina and later admitted he had fallen in love, a revelation that would go on to fuel public criticism when his marriage ended in 1991.

According to Tiffany, the timeline has often been misunderstood. She said Jet only pursued Nina after his divorce, not during the marriage.

Jet and Nina eventually wed in 1999 and now have two daughters, Jane, 26, and Jada, 23.

Tiffany also shared that a fortune teller once told Jet that his first marriage was destined to be short-lived, and that he would later meet his true partner.

More importantly, Tiffany defended Jet’s role as a father, saying he continued to support and raise his two daughters after the divorce.

“He’s always fulfilled his responsibilities and treated them well” she said, describing him as “a good man” who has been unfairly judged.

Still, scepticism remains. Some netizens point out that the Los Angeles property Jet left to Qiuyan reportedly came with a hefty mortgage, which she struggled to repay as a full-time homemaker.

The home was eventually repossessed, and Qiuyan was said to have faced financial hardship and had to resort to staying with her friends and family members.

Others argue that beyond financial matters, emotional toll and sacrifices made during the marriage cannot be overlooked.

Jet’s past remarks about his deep love for Nina have also been interpreted by some as lacking sensitivity toward his previous relationship.