Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner, famous for his role as Hawkeye in the Avengers franchise, is facing serious allegations of domestic violence and threatening behaviour from Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou. The accusations, which include claims of unsolicited explicit images and a smear campaign, have sparked a major controversy, with Renner's representatives firmly denying all charges.
The Core Allegations: Violence and Threats
Yi Zhou took to social media to detail her claims, stating that she and Jeremy Renner were involved in a romantic relationship during which he displayed violent and scary behaviour. She alleged that on one occasion, she locked herself in a bathroom after Renner yelled at her continuously for two hours, leaving her fearing for her safety.
Furthermore, Zhou accused the actor of sending her unsolicited pornographic images. She explained that she initially remained silent because Renner had "talked me into having a relationship with him sold me his love." She claims that when she eventually confronted him, the situation escalated, and he allegedly threatened to report her to ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Proof and Social Media Backlash
To substantiate her claims, Yi Zhou has shared numerous screenshots of alleged conversations on her Instagram. One particularly damning screenshot shows a text message that reads, "Immigration will be notified of your..." before the text is cut off. She has also posted several personal photographs of the two together inside Renner's home to prove the existence of their relationship.
In a now-deleted Instagram post from earlier this year that hinted at their romance, Zhou shared a picture of them in a car with the caption, "I didn't know anything about Jeremy until I met him in 2025... What I've learned since then is simple but profound: love heals." She now claims that this love was not reciprocated and that Renner initiated a smear campaign against her when she began to speak out.
Renner's Denial and Past Controversies
In response to these explosive claims, a representative for Jeremy Renner issued a strong denial. The representative stated, "The allegations being made are totally inaccurate and untrue."
This is not the first time the actor has been accused of violent behaviour. His ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco, whom he married in 2014, also made similar allegations during their divorce proceedings just ten months later. Renner has consistently denied Pacheco's claims, and the two now share joint custody of their daughter.
The professional relationship between Zhou and Renner began when they collaborated on the documentary Master of Cinema 2: Chronicles of Disney and the animated film Stardust Future: Stars and Scars earlier this year. Zhou claims she invited Renner to participate in these projects after he introduced himself to her.
Since coming forward, Zhou has stated that multiple other women have privately contacted her, claiming to have experienced similar behaviour from the actor. One such message, which Zhou shared, read, "You are not alone. He did the same things to me. He claimed he was a changed person after the accident." However, the identities of these women remain undisclosed, and their stories have not been independently verified.
