Jeremy Renner, 54, has found himself at the center of a controversy that could very likely affect his career, particularly his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou, 37, is accusing the Avengers star of sexual harassment and allegedly threatening to call immigration authorities on her.
As with most cases of alleged abuse, this story is extremely complex. Just last month, Zhou told the Daily Mail that she and Renner had been in a relationship. Renner had experienced a tumultuous couple of years, including a tragic snowmobile accident that drew global sympathy. Newly single and coping with the accident’s impact on both his health and career, most people who learned about his relationship with Zhou were simply wishing him well.
However, Zhou’s new account suggests that their path to romance was anything but straightforward. According to the filmmaker, Renner’s approach was overreaching from the very beginning. Allegedly, he introduced himself via direct messages and WhatsApp in June 2025, accompanied by nude pictures and videos.
Zhou took to her personal Instagram to explain how that initial, unsettling approach eventually led to a romantic relationship. She wrote that, while the unsolicited pictures were initially strange, she felt “seduced” by the idea that a Hollywood star was “fantasizing” about her. She believed their relationship was real, and according to The Daily Beast, it later evolved into a professional partnership, with the two collaborating on two documentaries.
Trouble reappeared when the couple began fighting about the documentaries. Zhou claims that Renner began drinking excessively and yelling at her to the point where she feared for her safety. After the breakup, she now accuses Renner of denying their relationship and allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign reminiscent of Justin Baldoni’s tactics against Blake Lively.
What surprised many was when Zhou released a screenshot of an argument she had with Renner over WhatsApp. While the precise context is unclear, it may relate to Zhou discovering that Renner had also sent his nudes to other women. In the cropped screenshot, Renner allegedly writes, “Immigration will be notified your —,” though Zhou has refused to reveal the remainder of the message.
Zhou has not indicated whether she plans to file a formal legal suit against Renner. But if she does and secures a favorable ruling, it could put his position in the MCU at risk. Just recently, Renner appeared on The Breakfast Club, where Charlamagne tha God asked him why Jonathan Majors lost his role over assault while Renner, with similar past allegations (excluding this one), retained his job. Renner simply replied, “I don’t know.”
As this story continues to develop, it’s clear that “I don’t know” may no longer be an adequate response. In Zhou’s statement about this situation she wrote, “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? I thank the media reporters that reached out to me and is willing to support me unpack the truth we need to endure in today’s Hollywood, help other women to tell the truth.”
