By Yeoh Wee Teck

THE bad boy is gone.

Say hello to the kinder, gentler Edison Chen.

The actor turned up at Timberlux Warehouse at Havelock Road for an Adidas Originals event.

Unlike the ready-to-rumble security unit enveloping him, Edison was charming and friendly when he met the press for a frenzied five-minute chat.

'I'm in Singapore because I've got to fulfil my contract with Carl's Jr. and I've always worked with Adidas.

'So when Adidas invited me, I agreed.'

He turned up at the event suitably dressed.

He was clad head-to-toe in Adidas, with the clothes and shoes designed by his friend Kazuki.

He also mingled with fans at the VIP area, and caused an explosion of camera flashes when he appeared.

'I've always loved Singapore, especially the fans and the food. I'm getting used to the tropic heat again though.'

Polite chatter aside, he didn't address the sex photo scandal issue directly, but acknowledged he has had a bad year.

However, he saw it as a good learning experience.

'I did wrong and it was a tough year, but I've grown a lot since.

'Ironically, last year, I told my manager I was ready to take a break. But this was not the way I thought it would be.'

He added: 'This past year, I've been taking it easy.

'I've been going to the gym six days a week, and I've been reading and thinking over things.

'I've been trying to figure things out.'

It seems that charity may be the answer.

He said he will donate all the earnings from his Singapore appearances to charity.

'I was in Shanghai watching a basketball game when I met Jet Li with a bunch of kids.

'This is a charity cause I believe in, and I've seen how it has helped.'

He added: 'Right now, I want to use my influence - if I have any left - and my talent to help the less fortunate.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on Feb 28, 2009.

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