Jeremy Renner is pushing back against serious allegations made by filmmaker Yi Zhou, who alleged that the actor harassed him during a brief personal and business interaction earlier this year.
Zhou, 37, shared several posts about his claims on Instagram on Monday, tagging them with “#Cancel” and “#CancelJeremyRenner.” She wrote that Renner first contacted her in June, sending her “a series of unsolicited/unsolicited pornographic images of himself via DM and WhatsApp.” She alleged that their communications later became personal and she was “tricked” into believing that he cared about her.
Jeremy Renner denies the claims
The actor has now denied all the claims made by Zhou. In a statement shared with DiversityA representative for Renner said, “The allegations being made are completely false and untrue.” His lawyer has not commented further.
Zhou details his allegations
Zhou shared a series of Instagram posts accusing Renner and detailing the case. In a post, he alleged that the conversation escalated during a meeting on August 20, when they were discussing a documentary project. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said that Renner drank “a bottle of wine” and became “violent”, causing her to lock herself in a room out of fear.
In her post, Zhou wrote, “This experience really shows the dark side of Hollywood and the smear campaign to demonize women and Asian female filmmakers and women in general.” He said he felt “destroyed by a series of abusive fan campaigns”, but also mentioned receiving support from friends and others in the industry.
Zhou is currently directing a documentary titled Chronicles of Disney, which is not affiliated with Disney. The film reportedly includes interviews with Renner, Oscar-winning costume designer Mark Bridges, and makeup artist Bill Corso.
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Shared projects and future results
Before the controversy, Renner and Zhou were said to be collaborating on several projects. Along with Chronicles of Disney, Renner is listed as a voice actor in Zhou’s animated film Stardust Future: Stars and Scars, which claims to be the first feature created entirely with AI.
As Variety noted, the project had planned an awards-worthy theatrical release in November, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked to benefit Renner’s charity, the Rennervation Foundation.
For now, neither Zhou nor Renner have shared additional statements issued through their representatives and social media.
questions to ask
Who accused Jeremy Renner?
Film producer Yi Zhou accused Renner of harassment and inappropriate behavior.
What did Jeremy Renner say about the allegations?
He denied them in a statement to Variety, calling them “completely false and untrue.”
Were Reiner and Zhou working together?
Yes, they were reportedly collaborating on a documentary and an AI-based animated film.