Hollywood Star Faces Explosive Allegations
Marvel actor Jeremy Renner has vehemently denied shocking allegations made by Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou, with his legal team threatening significant legal action against what they describe as "false and fabricated" claims. The 54-year-old Hollywood star finds himself at the centre of a brewing scandal involving his former collaborator, who has accused him of sending explicit content and making threats.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
According to Zhou's exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the 37-year-old filmmaker claims Renner sent her "intimate photographs" and pornographic videos while attempting to pursue a romantic relationship. She alleges their professional collaboration took a dark turn when the actor allegedly went on drunken rants that left her fearing for her safety.
"I had to lock myself in a room to be safe praying he would not come into the room at night as he was really angry. I did not say a word, I was so scared for my life," Zhou told the publication.
The filmmaker further claims that during an August 20 meeting at Renner's home, the actor consumed an entire bottle of wine alone and yelled continuously for two hours, forcing her to lock herself in a bathroom for safety. She shared alleged text messages with colleagues where she described Renner as "violent" and expressed concerns about her wellbeing.
Renner's Legal Team Fires Back
Renner's attorney, Marty Singer, has issued a cease-and-desist letter obtained by TMZ, completely rejecting Zhou's version of events. The legal document presents a starkly different account, alleging that Zhou made romantic advances toward Renner during their first meeting in July, which led to a "brief consensual encounter."
The letter insists Renner made it clear in August that he wasn't interested in pursuing any further sexual relationship and deliberately placed Zhou in a guest bedroom during subsequent meetings to avoid intimacy. Renner's team claims Zhou subsequently sent "hundreds of explicit text messages" and demanded intimacy, even during a car ride to the airport.
According to the actor's legal representation, Zhou threatened to "harm him publicly" unless he promoted her documentary and fabricated a romantic connection between them. The cease-and-desist letter warns that continued dissemination of what they call "false, fabricated and salacious lies" could result in millions of dollars in damages.
Immigration Threats Alleged
One of the most serious allegations involves Zhou's claim that Renner threatened to contact immigration authorities (ICE) after their relationship soured. The filmmaker shared alleged WhatsApp messages with the Daily Mail showing Renner responding to her accusations with: "Immigration will be notified of your-" with the remainder of the message cut off.
Zhou told the publication that this threat "deeply shocked and frightened me" and described it as emblematic of power imbalances harming women in the industry. She maintains that Renner pursued her initially, sending unsolicited explicit content and convincing her of his sincerity about a long-term relationship.
The pair collaborated on two projects: Chronicles of Disney, a documentary about Disney workers featuring Renner as a key interviewee, and the animated film Stardust Future, for which he provided voiceover work. Zhou claims the actor failed to publicly promote either project despite his involvement.
Renner's legal team maintains that aside from the initial encounter, their relationship remained strictly professional. Singer's statement calls Zhou's claims "false, outrageous and highly defamatory" and suggests she's retaliating because Renner rejected her romantic advances and didn't promote her projects on social media.
The situation continues to develop as both parties prepare for potential legal battles, with significant reputational and financial consequences hanging in the balance.
