He wrote: "I read from Zaobao that the parents were separated/divorced when he was young, his sister had been involved with drugs and Edison himself grew up smoking, drinking and fighting."

Edison's estranged parents have since apologized following the celebrity's public show of remorse. They have blamed themselves for not bringing up their son well.

Mr Baey further commented : "This is indeed a very real example of the negative impact on children growing up in dysfunctional families."

He also notes in his blog that he has seen quite a number of such cases at his Meet People Sessions.

"Just two weeks ago, two young sisters came to seek financial help. The elder who is divorced in her mid twenties has a young child, and the younger is a 19 year-old single mother with already three children! I found out that their youngest sister has also gone astray and is now in a girls? home. Their parents have divorced when they were young. I worry for the youngest generation that they may end up in similar circumstances. It becomes a vicious cycle!"