Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou has made shocking accusations against actor Jeremy Renner, who she claims she used to date.
The allegations include claims that the Avengers star sent her explicit messages and porn, behaved aggressively while drunk, and later threatened to call ICE on her after their relationship deteriorated.
Zhou, 37, who collaborated with Renner, 54, on two projects – a documentary about Disney workers titled Chronicles of Disney and an animated feature called Stardust Future – detailed her allegations in a series of Instagram posts this week.
‘It is with deep regret, sadness, and disappointment that I am compelled to share a truth I have been holding inside for too long,’ Zhou wrote on Instagram, adding that no woman or creative should have to endure ’emotional and psychological pressure’ while working.
According to Zhou, her collaboration with Renner began professionally when he first contacted her in June, but soon turned personal.
She alleged that Renner initiated contact and then began sending ‘personal and intimate photographs’ and sexually explicit material, behaviour she described as unsolicited and inappropriate.
However, she said, ‘He convinced me of his sincerity, saying he had been single for a long time and open to a long-term relationship,’ she wrote in her posts.
Zhou shared with the Daily Mail a screenshot of a short porn video clip Renner allegedly texted her, depicting a male and female porn actor in a sex scene, alongside a drooling emoji and a message that read: ‘This ok ???’
She further claimed Renner had publicly denied their romantic relationship and failed to promote the two films they had made together.
‘He used me and denied me and denied our work,’ Zhou said, saying that she believed his advances were sincere at the time, despite the inappropriate conduct.
Now, Zhou has recollected to the Daily Mail an alleged incident in which Renner got drunk at a meeting about their film at his home and ‘yelled for two hours,’ while she locked herself in the bathroom in fear.
‘I was discussing about the doc logistics, then he drank a bottle of wine alone and got angry and was angry yelling for two hours,’ Zhou said.
‘I had to location share to my team, my parents and Disney colleagues in case something happens to me they know where I am.’
‘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.’
Texts published by the paper appear to show her describing the incident to co-workers in real time, referring to Renner as ‘violent’ and ‘crazy.’
The Daily Mail also obtained a screenshot of alleged WhatsApp texts between Zhou and Renner, in which she called him a ‘pig’ and accused him of using ‘apps to send d**k pix.’
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Zhou alleged that after she confronted Renner privately about his behaviour and asked him to ‘respect [her] as a woman and a filmmaker,’ he responded by threatening to contact immigration authorities — an exchange she says left her shaken.
Screenshots shared with the outlet appear to show Renner writing, ‘Immigration will be notified of your,’ though the remainder of the message is cut off.
In her most recent Instagram post, she wrote: ‘As this is a developing story of cyber flashing / unsolicited porn and smear campaign and domestic violence, I just found out thx to the courageous @joshtboswell there’ s another victim that just spoke to him and apparently he cheated on me with her!’
In her posts, Zhou said that speaking out was a difficult decision but one she felt was necessary to ‘protect her name and the integrity of her work.’
‘It took me a long time before I had the courage to write this and speak up,’ she wrote, thanking her friends and colleagues for their support.
Zhou’s statements have not yet been independently verified, and Renner has not publicly responded to the allegations. Representatives for the actor did not immediately reply to requests for comment from Metro.
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