Jeremy Renner Denies Filmmaker's Claims of Threats and Unsolicited Photos
Jeremy Renner refutes accusations from filmmaker Yi Zhou that he threatened to contact immigration authorities during the breakdown of their supposed romantic involvement — or that he sent her unsolicited photos of himself to gain her interest.
“These assertions are entirely false and without merit,” Renner’s representative informed Us Weekly in a press release dated Friday, November 7.
Zhou, aged 34, garnered significant media attention earlier this week after publicizing a sequence of shocking accusations against Renner, 54, through her social media channels. The Chinese director stated on Monday, November 3, that Renner transmitted to her “a series of unwelcome/unrequested explicit self-portraits” in June via direct messages and WhatsApp, aiming to entice her into a relationship.
“He persuaded me of his genuine intentions, claiming he had been unattached for an extended period and was receptive to a committed partnership,” Zhou asserted in several Instagram posts, alluding to the Marvel star. “I placed my trust in him, in love's capacity, and in the prospect of a new beginning.”
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After Zhou and Renner purportedly began a romantic involvement, they also established a professional partnership, jointly working on ventures such as Stardust Future and Chronicles of Disney.
Nevertheless, Zhou asserted that when the moment arrived for Renner to endorse Chronicles of Disney, he “declined.” She further contended that Renner failed to publicly refute rumors suggesting the project was AI-generated, thereby damaging her professional standing.
“When I privately confronted him about his previous inappropriate conduct and requested him to act respectfully, treating me as a woman and a director, he menaced me with contacting immigration/ICE, an action that profoundly astonished and terrified me,” Zhou declared in an additional Instagram post on Monday. “Such conduct is intolerable and serves as a prime example of the power disparity that persistently afflicts women within our profession.”
Zhou additionally claimed to have had a distressing encounter at Renner’s residence in Reno, Nevada, during a discussion about Chronicles of Disney.
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“I was conferring [with him] regarding the documentary's arrangements, then he consumed an entire bottle of wine by himself and grew increasingly furious, shouting for a span of two hours,” Zhou recounted to the Daily Mail in an interview released on Thursday, November 6.
She stated, “I felt compelled to share my location with my team, my family, and Disney associates in the event that something occurred to me, ensuring they knew my whereabouts.”
Zhou asserted that once Renner began consuming alcohol, she grew concerned about his disposition and secluded herself “in a room for safety, hoping he wouldn't enter during the night given his intense anger. I remained silent, fearing for my life.”
Zhou disclosed a sequence of text messages exchanged between herself and her colleagues around the time of the purported event. “Are you able to secure yourself in the washroom? He appears deranged,” one colleague reportedly messaged Zhou, based on screenshots provided by the Daily Mail.
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She responded, “I have locked it, hoping he cannot open it. I am [so] anxious; he screamed for 2 hours after finishing a bottle of wine by himself.”
Zhou additionally provided purported WhatsApp conversations between herself and Renner to the Daily Mail.
In the course of the supposed dialogue, Zhou instructed Renner to “be damned” and labeled him a “swine.” She subsequently criticized the Hawkeye performer, alleging, “You utilize every application to dispatch explicit images,” noting that “nobody [has] commented … to date.”
Renner supposedly replied, “Immigration authorities will be informed of your —.” Nonetheless, Zhou “declined to disclose the remainder of Renner’s supposedly truncated communication,” as per the Daily Mail, yet implied it pertained to her residency standing.
In a recent Instagram statement from Zhou this week, she conveyed to her audience, “It is with profound sorrow, grief, and dismay that I find myself obliged to reveal a truth I have suppressed for an excessive duration.”
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She disclosed in the Monday publication, “Throughout recent months, I have experienced apprehension for my personal security and profound anguish regarding the mistreatment I have suffered. No female, director, or artist ought to be subjected to such emotional and mental strain while striving to safeguard her reputation and the authenticity of her creations.”
Zhou, explicitly indicating her reference to Renner, implored her “colleague directors, Academy members, Hollywood associates, industry leaders, and women to support me.”
She further asserted, “Every declaration is substantiated by documented evidence,” encompassing her claims that Renner menaced her with contacting immigration officials.
“Trust me, a considerable period elapsed before I found the fortitude to compose this and voice my concerns,” Zhou penned in a distinct Instagram message. “I extend my gratitude to my team, my representatives / supervisors, and friends / other women who aided me in articulating such profound pain and disgrace that I still harbor internally as I draft these entries.”
Us Weekly has contacted Zhou’s spokesperson for a statement.
