Jackie Chan Refuses to Repeat "Never Touch a Black Man's Radio," Line from Rush Hour, Decades Later, Showing No Remorse or Apology
Rush Hour's Iconic Buddy Cop Comedy:
The 1998 action-comedy gem, Rush Hour, is a must-watch with its hilarious and iconic moments between leads Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The duo's chemistry, particularly in their scenes together, leaves audiences in stitches, highlighted by Det. James Carter scolding Chief Inspector Lee for touching his radio. But interestingly, three decades later, Chan still doesn't grasp the joke behind that scene.
A YouTube clip captures the scene beautifully, as Carter and Lee, cruising L.A. in Lee's car, share a laugh over the Beach Boys on the radio. Carter then criticizes Lee's radio-touching, exclaiming, "Don't you ever touch a Black man's radio!" This exchange remains one of the film's funniest moments, and it's hard not to chuckle whenever revisiting it.
While promoting the 2025 film Karate Kid: Legends, Chan sat down for an interview with People, sharing his thoughts on Rush Hour, still among his best films. The actor, who admitted to becoming more attuned to Western culture, confessed his confusion over the radio gag. It's important to note that Chan is not a Black man; he is a Chinese actor who starred opposite Chris Tucker.
The radio event in Rush Hour is symbolic of cultural nuances, rooted in Black American customs. In this context, Carter's strong reaction represents a touchstone of African American culture, emphasizing the awareness one should have when interacting with another person's possessions. As a Black man myself, I can confirm the importance of this principle.
During the interview, Chan also mentioned that working on more American films and living in the States has helped him understand Western culture better, but admitted that he's only grasped "a little bit" more. Among his notable American films are Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Nights, and The Tuxedo.
Rumors suggest Chan and Tucker may team up again for Rush Hour 4. Both seem eager to reprise their roles, with Tucker expressing his excitement about the project in the past, and Chan discussing the potential sequel while sharing his thoughts on the 2007 threequel.
Personally, I'd love to see Chan and Tucker return for another action-packed and laugh-out-loud extravaganza. I'd also hope for more comedic cultural exchanges between Lee and Carter, with perhaps Chan having a better understanding of the jokes this time around.
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- In an upcoming interview, Jackie Chan shared his continued appreciation for the success of Rush Hour, expressing his confusion over one of the film's most memorable moments, the radio gag.
- As more interviews with entertainment personalities like Jackie Chan are broadcasted, fans can look forward to catching up on their favorite stars' thoughts on movies-and-tv, including potential future collaborations and insights into their careers.
