Tactile Jackie Chan shrugs off controversy over cuddle with singer at CPPCC meeting

Jackie Chan has dismissed the controversy online over his cuddling of a singer at a political meeting in Beijing as "a lot of fuss over nothing", according to a mainland media report.

The actor said at a press conference publicising his upcoming birthday concert that he was a friendly and tactile man, the China News Service reported. He said he was amazed by the publicity that pictures of him greeting Song Zuying had created.

Photos of Chan approaching Song from behind and snuggling cheek to cheek at an arts and culture group meeting at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference last week went viral online.

Some internet users accused the actor of flirting with the 47-year-old singer, who is the director of a People's Liberation Army song and dance troupe. They reminded him that he was attending the country's top political advisory body, not going to a night club or on a date.

"That day, I was behind her. She turned her head, saw me and said 'Oh, it's you,'" he said. "I'm always like this. Only this time it was photographed and published."

Chan moved close to Chun Ni, who was hosting Monday's press conference, and pressed his cheek next to hers twice.

"Do you want to be in the headlines?" he laughed.