Jeremy Renner Denies Harassment Allegations From Film Director: ‘Totally Inaccurate and Untrue’
by J. Kim Murphy · VarietyJeremy Renner has denied allegations of harassment levied against him by filmmaker Yi Zhou, who claims that the actor sent her “personal and intimate photographs of himself” and exhibited disturbing behavior on one occasion that prompted her to lock herself in a room.
“The allegations being made are totally inaccurate and untrue,” a rep for Renner told Variety.
Renner’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Related Stories
Netflix Has 'No Interest in Owning Legacy Media Networks' and Can Be 'Choosy' About Its M&A Targets, Says Co-CEO Ted Sarandos
'KPop Demon Hunters' Returns to Second Place in Its 20th Week on Netflix Top 10, Hitting 14 Million Views During Halloween
Zhou, 37, first levied claims against Renner on Monday with a series of Instagram posts, including the hashtags “#Cancel” and “#CancelJeremyRenner.” Zhou claims she began dating Renner after he contacted her in June by sending “a string of unwanted/unsolicited pornographic images of himself via DM and Whatsapp” and then “seduced” her by “loving me so much I believed in him/the power of love.” She also claims that she has been contacted and “destroyed by a set up [of] smear fans campaigns.”
“This experience really shows the dark side of Hollywood and the smear campaign to deter women and Asian female filmmakers and women in general,” Zhou wrote in another post. “I’m appalled but happy to read also many support from friends and media that will continue to uncover domestic abuse, abuse of women and the unwanted unsolicited porn attack against innocent young women.”
Speaking to the Daily Mail on Thursday, Zhou expounded on her allegations. She claimed that she was with Renner on the evening of Aug. 20 to discuss a documentary project. Renner allegedly consumed a bottle of wine. Zhou characterized Renner as “violent” in a text that she claims to have sent to another party on the evening. Zhou alleged that she resorted to locking herself in a room out of fear.
Prior to Zhou’s allegations against Renner, the pair had been reported to be working together across a series of projects. Zhou is directing the documentary “Chronicles of Disney,” about the legacy and history of the studio, in which Renner is interviewed as a talking head. The film, which is not being produced by Disney itself, is also reported to feature costume designer Mark Bridges and makeup artist Bill Corso.
Renner is also a voice actor in Zhou’s “Stardust Future: Stars and Scars,” which claims to be the first animated feature entirely created by AI. Per Variety, the film had set its sights on an awards-qualifying theatrical release for November, with a portion of revenue to be donated to Renner’s charity Rennervation Foundation.