Filmmaker Yi Zhou has accused actor Jeremy Renner of abusive behavior that made her feel unsafe while working together on a documentary and an animated film. Zhou shared these allegations after previously posting about the situation on social media and later providing a detailed interview about the incident.
Details of Yi Zhou’s Accusations Against Jeremy Renner
Yi Zhou revealed to The Daily Mail that the troubling episode occurred during a meeting at Renner’s home to discuss their project. She described how Renner consumed a large amount of alcohol and became intensely angry throughout their interaction.
Yi stated,
I was discussing about the doc logistics, then he drank a bottle of wine alone and got angry,
with Renner reportedly yelling for two hours. She said she had to take refuge by locking herself in a room, explaining,
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.
She feared for her life and remained silent, worried about provoking him further.
Out of concern for her safety, Zhou shared her location that night with her parents, her team, and colleagues at Disney. Text messages provided to the outlet showed her contacts urging her to secure herself in a bathroom during the incident.
Previous Contact and Escalation of Conflict
Yi also claimed that Renner had sent her
personal and intimate photographs of himself
along with sexually explicit videos. She said the actor initially approached her with romantic intentions after reaching out to her in June, but his demeanor turned hostile after their relationship deteriorated.
In a statement on Instagram, Zhou expressed the emotional toll of coming forward:
It is with deep regret, sadness, and disappointment that I am compelled to share a truth I have been holding inside for too long.
She emphasized,
No woman, filmmaker, or creative should have to work under such emotional and psychological pressure.
Yi Zhou’s Motivations for Speaking Out
Zhou’s intention in publicly addressing the allegations against Jeremy Renner is to protect her professional integrity and raise awareness about unacceptable conduct within the entertainment world. Her decision to speak up illustrates the serious challenges many creatives face when dealing with abusive behaviors during their work.
