Jeremy Renner is denying director Yi Zhou’s claims that he threatened to call ICE on her after their alleged romantic relationship soured — or that he sent her “unwanted” images of himself to get her attention.
“These allegations are totally inaccurate and untrue,” Renner’s rep told Us Weekly in a Friday, November 7, statement.
Zhou, 34, made headlines earlier this week when she shared a series of bombshell allegations against Renner, 54, via social media. The Chinese filmmaker claimed on Monday, November 3, that Renner sent her “a string of unwanted/unsolicited pornographic images of himself” in June via DMs and WhatsApp to lure her into a relationship with him.
“He convinced me of his sincerity, saying he had been single for a long time and open to a long-term relationship,” Zhou alleged in a series of Instagram statements, referring to the Marvel actor. “I believed in him, in the power of love, and in the possibility of redemption.”
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Once Zhou and Renner allegedly started dating, they also formed a working relationship, collaborating on projects including Stardust Future and Chronicles of Disney.
However, Zhou claimed that when it came time for Renner to promote Chronicles of Disney, he “refused.” She also alleged that Renner didn’t publicly deny reports that the project was generated by AI, harming the reputation of her work.
“When I called him out privately about his past misconduct and asked him to behave properly, to respect me as a woman and as a filmmaker, he threatened to call immigration/ICE on me, an act that deeply shocked and frightened me,” Zhou claimed in another Instagram statement posted on Monday. “Such behavior is unacceptable and emblematic of the imbalance of power that continues to harm women in our industry.”
Zhou further alleged that she had a traumatic experience while at Renner’s home in Reno, Nevada, when they were discussing Chronicles of Disney.
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“I was discussing [with him] about the doc logistics, then he drank a bottle of wine alone and got angry and angry yelling for two hours,” Zhou alleged to the Daily Mail in an interview published on Thursday, November 6.
She claimed, “I had to location share [where I was] to my team, my parents and Disney colleagues in case something happens to me they know where I am.”
Zhou alleged that after Renner started drinking she began to worry about his temper and locked herself “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 shared a series of texts between her and her coworkers at the time of the alleged incident. “Can you lock yourself in the bathroom? He sounds crazy,” one coworker allegedly texted Zhou, according to screenshots shared by the Daily Mail.
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She replied, “I did lock hope he can’t open. I’m [so] worried he yelled for 2 hours with one bottle of wine down alone.”
Zhou also shared alleged WhatsApp messages between her and Renner with the Daily Mail.
During the alleged exchange, Zhou told Renner to “go to hell” and called him a “pig.” She then slammed the Hawkeye actor, claiming, “U use all apps to send d*** pix,” pointing out that “no one [has] said anything … so far.”
Renner allegedly wrote back, “Immigration will be notified of your —.” However, Zhou “refused to provide the rest of Renner’s alleged cut-off message,” according to the Daily Mail, but suggested it was related to her immigration status.
In one of Zhou’s Instagram statements this week, she told her followers, “It is with deep regret, sadness, and disappointment that I am compelled to share a truth I have been holding inside for too long.”
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She revealed in the Monday post, “Over the past months, I have lived with fear for my safety and deep distress over the treatment I have endured. No woman, filmmaker, or creative should have to work under such emotional and psychological pressure while trying to protect her name and the integrity of her work.”
Zhou, who made it clear she was referring to Renner, asked her “fellow filmmakers, Academy voters, Hollywood peers, executives, and the women to stand with me.”
She also claimed, “All statements are backed by written records,” including her allegations that Renner threatened to call immigration on her.
“Believe me, it took me a long time before I had the courage to write this and speak up,” Zhou wrote in a separate Instagram statement. “I thank my team, my agents / managers and friends / other women who supported me in voicing such a pain and humiliation I still have inside as I am typing these posts.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Zhou’s rep for comment.
