Archive · 9 Nov 2025
Jeremy Renner Denies Filmmaker Yi Zhou's Harassment Claims
A filmmaker named Yi Zhou has accused actor Jeremy Renner of sending her inappropriate pictures and acting violently.
She said this happened after they met earlier this year, and that Renner threatened her.
She believes this shows the bad side of Hollywood and that women are targeted.
However, Jeremy Renner's team strongly denies everything she said.
They claim her accusations are completely false and untrue.
They also suggest that Zhou is making these claims because Renner rejected her romantic interest in him.
The two were working together on movie projects, but the future of those collaborations is now uncertain due to the controversy.
Filmmaker Yi Zhou has publicly accused actor Jeremy Renner of sending unsolicited pornographic images and exhibiting disturbing behavior.
Zhou claims Renner turned violent after drinking and threatened to call immigration/ICE on her.
Renner has denied all allegations through his representative and lawyer, calling them 'totally inaccurate and untrue.'
Renner's team suggests Zhou's claims are an attempt to retaliate after he rejected her romantic advances.
The professional collaborations between Zhou and Renner on a documentary and an AI animated feature are now in jeopardy.
- Who
- Filmmaker Yi Zhou has accused actor Jeremy Renner of harassment and inappropriate behavior.
- What
- Zhou alleges Renner sent unsolicited pornographic images, exhibited violent behavior, and threatened her, while Renner denies all claims and states she is retaliating after he rejected her romantic advances.
- When
- Zhou publicly shared her accusations on Monday, claiming communication began in June and a specific incident occurred on August 20. Renner's team stated he stopped communicating with her over a month prior.
- Where
- Allegations were posted on Zhou's Instagram; Renner's response was reported by Variety and People.
- Why
- Zhou states her experience is part of 'the dark side of Hollywood' and a smear campaign against women, while Renner's team suggests Zhou is agitated because he rejected her romantic advances.
Filmmaker Yi Zhou's Allegations
Jeremy Renner's Response
Nature of Allegations
Filmmaker Yi Zhou's Allegations
Filmmaker Yi Zhou accuses Jeremy Renner of sending unsolicited pornographic images, exhibiting disturbing and violent behavior, and engaging in smear campaigns against her. She claims he threatened to call immigration/ICE on her after she confronted him about his actions.
Jeremy Renner's Response
Jeremy Renner's representative and lawyer deny all allegations, calling them 'totally inaccurate and untrue,' 'false, outrageous, and highly defamatory.' They suggest Zhou is agitated because Renner rejected her romantic advances.
Communication Details
Filmmaker Yi Zhou's Allegations
Zhou claims Renner initiated contact in June with unsolicited pornographic images via direct messages and WhatsApp. She also states that a meeting on August 20th turned violent after Renner drank a bottle of wine, forcing her to lock herself in a room.
Jeremy Renner's Response
Renner's legal team claims Zhou has been 'relentlessly harassing' Renner with unwanted messages and that he stopped communicating with her for over a month, implying the allegations stem from unrequited advances.
Impact on Professional Relationship
Filmmaker Yi Zhou's Allegations
Zhou feels her experience reveals 'the dark side of Hollywood' and that she is being targeted by smear campaigns to silence her. She was collaborating with Renner on a documentary and an AI animated feature.
Jeremy Renner's Response
Renner's team suggests Zhou's claims are an attempt to retaliate after her projects were not promoted on his social media, which they say occurred because he rejected her romantic advances. The status of their joint projects is now unclear.
- Accuser
- Yi Zhou (Filmmaker)
- Accused
- Jeremy Renner (Actor)
- Allegations
- Unsolicited pornographic images, disturbing/violent behavior, threats to call immigration/ICE, smear campaigns.
- Renner's Defense
- Allegations are 'totally inaccurate and untrue,' 'false, outrageous, and highly defamatory'; claims Zhou is retaliating after romantic advances were rejected.
- Alleged Communication Start
- June (according to Zhou)
- Alleged Incident Date
- August 20 (according to Zhou)
- Collaborative Projects
- 'Chronicles of Disney' documentary, 'Stardust Future: Stars and Scars' AI animated feature.
Sources
Marvel star Jeremy Renner accused of misconduct by filmmaker Yi Zhou? Here's the truth
Jeremy Renner States Harassment Accusations From Chinese Filmmaker Yi Zhou Are 'Totally Inaccurate And Untrue'
Totally inaccurate and untrue: Jeremy Renner denies harassment claims
Jeremy Renner denies harassment allegations by Chinese director Yi Zhou: ‘Totally inaccurate’