Actor Jeremy Renner denies harassment allegations categorically denies the Yi Zhou harassment claims and Zhou harassment allegations, stating that the harassment allegation dispute is based on false statements. The allegation dispute began after filmmaker Yi Zhou publicly accused Renner of misconduct on Instagram, leading to a cease-and-desist response from his legal team. Zhou alleges unsolicited explicit content and threatening behavior, while Renner denies harassment and his attorney describes Zhou’s account as false, outrageous, and defamatory. Both sides maintain conflicting narratives regarding the nature of their interactions.
The Timeline and Core Allegations
The dispute spans from June 2025 contact to November legal action, with competing narratives about relationship development and boundaries.
What Filmmaker Yi Zhou Alleges
Zhou, 37, posted allegations on November 3 via Instagram, claiming Renner sent unsolicited pornographic images starting in June. She alleges that during an August 20 meeting, Renner became intoxicated and exhibited aggressive behavior, forcing her to lock herself in a room. Zhou also claims Renner threatened immigration action and that other women contacted her with similar allegations.[2][3][4][5][1]
Zhou posted materials on Instagram she describes as evidence: photographs, text messages, emails, and video content. She additionally alleges Renner changed his profile picture and logged out of WhatsApp to deny involvement.[6][7]
How Jeremy Renner Responds to These Allegations
Renner’s attorney Marty Singer sent a cease-and-desist letter on November 8, 2025, characterizing Zhou’s account as “false, outrageous and highly defamatory.” Singer states the July 12 meeting involved brief consensual contact at a Reno, Nevada hotel. When they met again in August, Singer claims Renner explicitly rejected Zhou’s advances and maintained professional boundaries.[3][8][1]
Singer alleges Zhou sent “hundreds of unsolicited sexually explicit messages” and threatened to damage Renner’s reputation unless he promoted her projects and provided awards campaign support. A representative told Variety: “The allegations being made are totally inaccurate and untrue.”[9][1]
Bilateral Legal Actions and Evidence Posted
Zhou posted her own cease-and-desist letter on Instagram, demanding Renner stop “threatening, intimidating, and disrespectful conduct.” She claims she sent multiple cease-and-desist letters over the preceding month. To the Daily Beast, Zhou stated both documentary and animated film are “recorded same time and signed.”[10][11][12]
Journalist Josh Boswell reported on November 6 that at least one additional woman came forward sharing similar allegations.[4]
Collaborative Projects Affected by the Dispute
Two entertainment projects remain uncertain following allegations: Chronicles of Disney, an independent documentary exploring Disney’s cultural legacy featuring Renner alongside costume designer Mark Bridges and makeup artist Bill Corso; and Stardust Future: Stars and Scars, described as the first feature created entirely using artificial intelligence with Renner voicing a character.[13][14][15]
Both projects were scheduled for November 2025 release with Stardust Future revenue pledged to Renner’s Rennervation Foundation.[15][16]
