Jeremy Renner has been accused of harassment by filmmaker Yi Zhou, who claims he sent her explicit photos and acted aggressively during a meeting — allegations the actor denies.
"The allegations being made are totally inaccurate and untrue," a representative for Renner told Variety. His attorney has not provided additional comment.
Zhou, 37, made her claims public on Monday through a series of Instagram posts using the hashtags "#Cancel" and "#CancelJeremyRenner."
She alleged that Renner began contacting her in June, sending "a string of unwanted/unsolicited pornographic images of himself via DM and Whatsapp."
Zhou said she believed they later developed a relationship after he "seduced" her, adding that she has since been targeted by "smear fan campaigns."
"I'm worried for other women who will be victim and might have been victim being used as a sexual object, abused and destroyed in such a manner. Hollywood hides these men and bad behavior for the sake of money, but do we still need to be a silent victim in the post me 2 era? " she wrote.
Speaking to the Daily Mail on Thursday, Zhou elaborated on her claims, saying she met Renner on Aug. 20 to discuss a documentary project.
She alleged that Renner consumed a bottle of wine and that his behavior became threatening, prompting her to lock herself in a room.
Zhou said she described him as "violent" in a message she sent to another person that night.
Before the allegations, Zhou and Renner had been collaborating on multiple projects.
Renner appears in Zhou's upcoming documentary "Chronicles of Disney," which explores the creative and cultural legacy of the Disney studio.
The film, which is not affiliated with Disney, also features costume designer Mark Bridges and makeup artist Bill Corso.
Renner also voices a character in Zhou's animated feature "Stardust Future: Stars and Scars," promoted as the first full-length animated movie created entirely with artificial intelligence.
"This is a film born from the intersection of human resilience and machine imagination," Zhou said of the film, according to Variety. "I asked AI to tell me about our past and show me our future.
"My team and I used AI not as a replacement for creativity but as an extension of memory to heal what humanity has broken and to dream of what we will become."
The film was planned for an awards-qualifying theatrical release in November, with a portion of proceeds intended for Renner's Rennervation Foundation.
Before the dispute, Zhou and Renner had collaborated on multiple productions.
Renner appears in Zhou’s upcoming documentary Chronicles of Disney, and voices a role in her animated feature "Stardust Future: Stars and Scars," which she described as “a film born from the intersection of human resilience and machine imagination.”
Both films fall under the Masters of Cinema banner, produced by Into The Sun Films.
According to a fully executed Talent Release Form dated Sept. 15, 2025 and made available by her rep, Renner granted the company and its affiliates perpetual, worldwide rights to use his likeness, image, voice, and performances in all related projects and media.
The agreement covers both the documentary and animated feature, allowing the producer to adapt or reinterpret recorded material in any format.
It also confirms the producer’s full ownership of the works and states that Renner waived any claims related to defamation, privacy, or unauthorized use of his likeness. Disputes must be handled through binding arbitration in California.
The release means Renner cannot revoke or challenge the use of his performances in either film, which remain legally authorized under the executed contract.
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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