Marvel actor Jeremy Renner has denied allegations of harassment made by filmmaker Yi Zhou, after the pair worked together on a Disney documentary project.
In a Daily Mail interview published last week, Zhou claimed Renner became “violent” during a meeting at Renner’s house in August where it’s alleged the actor drank a bottle of wine. Zhou said she then locked herself in a room overnight for her safety. In a later text conversation, in which Zhou accused Renner of being a “pig” and sending her explicit photos, the Chinese director claimed Renner replied to her: “immigration will be notified of your…” — though the rest of the message is cut off.
“The allegations being made are totally inaccurate and untrue,” a spokesperson for Renner stated to Variety.
Renner has subsequently filed a cease and desist letter, obtained by TMZ, in which the actor claims the pair previously had a “brief consensual encounter” prior to the meeting at his house. The Hawkeye star says Zhou had sent him “hundreds” of explicit messages, but told Zhou he was not interested in a relationship when they met again in August, when he confirmed Zhou slept in a guest room that night.
TMZ reports that Zhou has filed her own cease and desist letters over the past month, accusing Renner of sending “sexual or suggestive” messages that have caused “discomfort and distress.”
Reports dicussing the pair’s relationship have swirled for some time, with Zhou previously posting numerous photos of herself with Renner, and more recently criticising him for not publicly promoting their projects together, including a documentary about Disney staff. In October, Zhou said she and the actor had been “dating”, prior to their August meeting.
“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 an Instagram post last week. “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.”
Renner recently returned to screens in the latest Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man, after a period of recovery following his 2023 snowplough accident. The actor has also recently discussed his hopes of returning to his Marvel character for a second season of Disney+ series Hawkeye. Renner was not among the names listed in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday casting announcement.
Image credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
