Jeremy Renner, known for playing Marvel’s Hawkeye and starring in Paramount’s Mayor of Kingstown, is in the hot seat as filmmaker Yi Zhou accuses the actor of sending explicit photos, going on drunken rants, and threatening to “call ICE” after their relationship and professional partnership fell apart.
What Zhou Says Happened
Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou posted a series of allegations on Instagram claiming Renner pursued her with unsolicited “intimate photographs” and pornographic videos. She says Renner contacted her on Instagram and WhatsApp in June 2025 and sent the images without her asking.
Zhou says a romantic relationship followed, and she invited Renner to work on two of her projects — a documentary titled Chronicles of Disney and an animated film.
She told the Daily Mail she provided WhatsApp screenshots, including a short porn clip Renner allegedly sent her.
Claims of a Drunken Outburst in Reno
Zhou says the situation escalated during an August 20 production meeting at Renner’s home in Reno, Nevada. According to her account, Renner drank a bottle of wine, became angry, and yelled for two hours.
She says she locked herself inside a room because she feared for her safety.
Texts Zhou shared with her colleagues show her calling Renner “violent” and “crazy” during the incident. Co-workers urged her to stay locked in the bathroom. She responded that she hoped “he can’t open” the door.
Threat to “Call ICE”
Zhou says Renner became hostile after she confronted him about his behavior and asked him to respect her as a filmmaker. She claims he responded by threatening to “call ICE” on her.
She provided messages to the Daily Mail showing Renner writing, “Immigration will be notified of your—,” though she did not release the remainder of the text.
Zhou Says Renner “Used” Her
Zhou told the Daily Mail that Renner denied their relationship and their collaborations once their fallout became public. She says he refused to promote the films they made together and that he “used” her.
Fans had already speculated about a romance after she posted video of the two driving near his Reno home in September.
Larger Accusations About Hollywood
In her Instagram posts, Zhou framed her claims as part of a larger pattern faced by women and Asian filmmakers. She wrote that her story reflects “how women and Asian filmmakers and filmmakers overall are still being mistreated.”
Zhou has posted more than two dozen Instagram updates about the situation.
She previously dated Jared Leto, who she speaks positively about, even as Leto faces new misconduct allegations of his own.
Renner’s Representatives Silent So Far
The Daily Mail hasn’t received responses from Renner’s camp.
Renner, who survived a near-fatal snowplow accident in 2023, has faced high-profile allegations before. In 2019, his ex-wife Sonni Pacheco accused him of drug use, threats of violence, and erratic behavior during their custody battle. Renner denied those claims.
He and Pacheco now share joint custody of their daughter.
