In a shocking turn of events, Marvel star Jeremy Renner has been accused by Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou of inappropriate behavior, emotional abuse, and threats following the breakdown of their personal and professional relationship. Zhou, who collaborated with the Hawkeye actor on two film projects earlier this year, detailed her claims in a series of Instagram posts and an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.
The 37-year-old filmmaker, known for her creative work in art, fashion, and film, alleged that Renner — 54 — sent her intimate photographs, sexually explicit videos, and drunken messages while they were collaborating on their projects. Zhou claimed that their relationship, which began as a professional partnership, eventually turned romantic before deteriorating into fear and distress.
Allegations of Drunken Outbursts and Fear for Safety
According to Zhou, one of the most alarming incidents occurred on August 20, during a meeting about their upcoming documentary Chronicles of Disney at Renner’s home. She alleged that the actor drank an entire bottle of wine during their discussion before becoming “angry and aggressive.”
“I was discussing the film’s logistics, then he drank a bottle of wine alone and got angry, yelling for two hours,” Zhou told Daily Mail.
“I had to location-share with my team, my parents, and Disney colleagues in case something happened to me. I locked myself in the bathroom, praying he would not come into the room. I was scared for my life.”
Text messages shared by Zhou reportedly show her communicating with colleagues during the alleged incident, describing Renner as “violent” and confirming that she was locked in the bathroom.
One message from a co-worker read, “Can you lock yourself in the bathroom? He sounds crazy.” Zhou replied, “I did lock [it]. I’m so worried. He yelled for two hours with one bottle of wine down alone.”
“He Sent Me Pornographic Videos and Photos”
In her Instagram posts, Zhou accused Renner of sending “personal and intimate photographs” and pornographic videos as part of what she described as “an attempt to woo her.” She shared with Daily Mail what she claimed were screenshots of these exchanges, including a short porn clip Renner allegedly sent her with the caption “This ok???” followed by a drooling-face emoji.
“He convinced me of his sincerity, saying he had been single for a long time and open to a serious relationship,” Zhou said. “I believed in him, in the power of love, and in the possibility of redemption.”
She added that she had “a collection” of the photos and GIFs allegedly sent by the actor.
Threats and Intimidation Claims
The situation reportedly escalated after Zhou confronted Renner about his behavior. According to her, he reacted by sending her a threatening message implying that he would report her to immigration authorities.
In screenshots obtained by Daily Mail, Zhou accused Renner via WhatsApp of using “apps to send d**k pics,” calling him a “pig.” Renner allegedly replied, “Immigration will be notified of your—” before the message was cut off. Zhou said she refused to share the rest of the text with the outlet.
“When I called him out privately and asked him to respect me as a woman and filmmaker, he threatened to call immigration on me,” Zhou wrote in her Instagram post. “Such behavior is unacceptable and emblematic of the imbalance of power that continues to harm women in our industry.”
Their Professional and Personal Relationship
Yi Zhou and Jeremy Renner collaborated on two projects — Chronicles of Disney, a documentary about Disney employees featuring Renner as a key interviewee, and Stardust Future, an animated film in which Renner provided a voiceover. Zhou said their relationship started during these collaborations.
“I did not reach out to him; he pursued me,” she said. “I didn’t even know his name — I had never watched any of his films. He used me, denied me, and denied our work.”
Photos and clips posted to Zhou’s Instagram in September showed the pair spending time together near Renner’s home in Reno, Nevada — including driving together in his convertible. In a previous interview with Daily Mail in October, Zhou had described their relationship as romantic.
However, she now claims the situation “turned toxic” when Renner refused to publicly acknowledge their relationship or support their shared projects.
“He failed to promote the two films we made together, which undermined the efforts of everyone involved,” Zhou said. “When I questioned him about his behavior, he retaliated with threats.”
Emotional Fallout
In her lengthy Instagram statement, Zhou said she decided to come forward after months of fear and emotional turmoil.
“It took me a long time to have the courage to write this and speak up,” she wrote. “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.”
She added that she was grateful to her “team, agents, and other women” who supported her during the ordeal.
No Response Yet from Jeremy Renner
As of now, Jeremy Renner has not released a public statement addressing Zhou’s allegations. Representatives for the actor have not responded to media requests for comment.
Renner, best known for his roles in The Hurt Locker and the Marvel Avengers franchise, had been making a steady recovery after his near-fatal snowplow accident in early 2023. The new claims mark a dramatic shift in the public conversation surrounding the actor, who was recently seen promoting his Disney+ series Rennervations.
Final Words
Yi Zhou’s allegations against Jeremy Renner have raised serious concerns about conduct, accountability, and power dynamics in the film industry. While the claims remain unproven and Renner has yet to respond, the controversy underscores the challenges many women face when professional boundaries are crossed in creative collaborations.
