Yi Zhou, a Chinese filmmaker, recently accused Jeremy Renner—known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—of abuse and threatening to report her to U.S. immigration authorities. These allegations emerged after Zhou collaborated with Renner on two projects: the documentary Chronicles of Disney and the AI animated film Stardust Future.
Zhou revealed her experiences in an Instagram post, expressing deep distress over the treatment she endured while working with Renner. She described feeling intense fear for her safety and emotional strain during their professional relationship.
Initial Contact and Unwanted Advances
Zhou claims that her first interaction with Renner occurred in June 2025, when he allegedly sent her unsolicited explicit photos via direct message, launching their acquaintance on a troubling note. Soon after, they reportedly began dating, and Zhou invited Renner to join her film projects. However, she later accused him of running a smear campaign against her and the movies they had worked on together.
In her words shared on social media, Zhou stated that the actor introduced himself with inappropriate images, a pattern she found echoed in past media reports about Renner’s behavior with other women. This conduct significantly soured their relationship.
Fallout After Refusal to Support Film Projects
According to Josh Boswell’s report for the Daily Mail, the rift between Zhou and Renner widened after Renner allegedly declined to support or promote the films they collaborated on. Zhou posted evidence on Instagram showing her association with Renner, including photographs of them together at a house and during car rides, confirming their professional and personal interactions.
Alleged August 20 Incident Raises Safety Concerns
Zhou recounted an intense incident that occurred at Renner’s home in Reno on August 20, 2025, during a meeting to discuss the documentary Chronicles of Disney. She claims Renner consumed an entire bottle of wine alone, becoming enraged and yelling for hours, which led her to lock herself in a room out of fear for her life.
Describing the event to the Daily Mail, Zhou said she was silent and scared, fearing he might enter the room and harm her. She shared that she kept her location known to her team, family, and colleagues at Disney as a safety precaution.
I was discussing about the doc logistics, then he drank a bottle of wine alone and got angry and angry yelling for two hours. 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.
—Yi Zhou, Filmmaker
Supportive Messages and Past Abuse Allegations Surface
Zhou shared screenshots from that night, showing text exchanges with her colleagues at Disney. One colleague urged,
Can you lock yourself in the bathroom? He sounds crazy.
Zhou replied,
I did lock hope he can’t open.
She also expressed concern over Renner’s prolonged anger fueled by alcohol.
The colleague responded with cautionary advice:
Oh sweetie take care of yourself – I googled the ex-wife’s claims and they’re very scary. You take good care of yourself and get out as soon as you can.
This message alludes to earlier abuse allegations made by Renner’s ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco, who accused him of threatening her life during a 2019 custody battle—a claim Renner has publicly denied.
Threats of Immigration Reporting Add to the Allegations
Zhou, who is originally from China, alleges that when she confronted Renner privately over his inappropriate behavior and demanded respect, he threatened to report her to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This alleged threat deeply shocked her and enhanced her fear.
When I called him out privately about his past misconduct and asked him to behave properly, to respect me as a woman and as a filmmaker, he threatened to call immigration/ICE on me, an act that deeply shocked and frightened me.
—Yi Zhou, Filmmaker
Journalist Josh Boswell tweeted about Renner’s alleged threat, noting his surprise at seeing the text messages Zhou shared.
Contents of the Text Exchange Between Zhou and Renner
Screenshots provided by Zhou indicate a heated exchange in which she accused Renner of sending explicit images to various women. Zhou’s texts included, Go to hell, All names re given, and Ur a pig. In response, Renner reportedly wrote,
Immigration has been notified of your–
, but Zhou withheld the remainder of his message.
Zhou Expresses Feelings of Betrayal and Exploitation
In her interview with the Daily Mail, Zhou described feeling used and betrayed by Renner, emphasizing that she neither sought him out nor was familiar with his work before he pursued her. She stated:
I did not reach out to him, he pursued me. I didn’t even know his name, never watched a movie of his. He used me and denied me and denied our work.
—Yi Zhou, Filmmaker
Potential Implications and Ongoing Concerns
The accusations against Jeremy Renner raise serious concerns about professional misconduct, emotional abuse, and the threat of immigration retaliation. Zhou’s experience highlights the challenges faced by creatives, particularly women and immigrants, in confronting abusive behavior within the entertainment industry.
As these claims circulate publicly, industry observers and involved parties may seek further clarity, and legal or professional consequences could follow depending on ongoing investigations. The situation underscores the importance of addressing power dynamics and ensuring safe, respectful working environments for all in the creative community.
She says she had a romantic relationship with him for several months, but they fell out when he refused to promote the two movies they made together: an AI-animated film he narrated, and a documentary about Disney in which she interviewed him. pic.twitter.com/WXzZ9OiYkR
— Josh Boswell (@JoshTBoswell) November 6, 2025
Documentarian Yi Zhou claimed she had to lock herself in a room at Renner’s Reno mansion, fearing for her safety, after he allegedly drank a whole bottle of wine to himself and ‘yelled’ for 2 hours. pic.twitter.com/ociudEDYMn
— Josh Boswell (@JoshTBoswell) November 6, 2025
Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye, Mayor of Kingstown) threatened to call ICE on his Chinese filmmaker partner in September, she told me.
I was shocked when I saw the text messages.
1/6 🧵 pic.twitter.com/P1LVVb50IP
— Josh Boswell (@JoshTBoswell) November 6, 2025
