Jeremy Renner accused of threatening ICE action against filmmaker Yi Zhou

Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou accuses Jeremy Renner of threatening to call ICE after confronting him

Actor Jeremy Renner, 54, has been accused by Chinese filmmaker Yi Zhou, 34, of threatening to involve U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after she confronted him over alleged misconduct. Zhou detailed her claims in a series of Instagram posts and an interview with the Daily Mail, alleging the Hawkeye star sent her unsolicited explicit images and later became verbally aggressive during a professional meeting.

 

 

 

 

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According to Zhou, she and Renner began corresponding in June 2025 after he reportedly sent her “unwanted pornographic images” via direct message and WhatsApp. She said their communication evolved into a romantic relationship, leading her to invite him to collaborate on two of her film projects, including a documentary titled Chronicles of Disney.

 

 

 

 

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Zhou claimed that during a meeting at Renner’s home in Reno, Nevada, on August 20, he became intoxicated and “angrily yelled for two hours,” prompting her to lock herself in a room out of fear. Text messages she allegedly exchanged with colleagues that night, obtained by the Daily Mail, show her expressing concern for her safety.

In her Instagram post, Zhou alleged that after confronting Renner privately about his behavior, he threatened to “call immigration/ICE” on her — a claim she said “deeply shocked and frightened” her. She characterized her experience as an example of “how women and Asian filmmakers are still being mistreated” in Hollywood.

The Daily Mail also reported that Zhou shared partial screenshots of WhatsApp conversations, including one message where Renner allegedly wrote, “Immigration will be notified of your—,” though she declined to reveal the full text.

Renner’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment from either the Daily Mail or The Daily Beast, which also reviewed the allegations.

The Avengers actor, who survived a severe snowplow accident in 2023, was previously accused of abusive behavior by ex-wife Sonni Pacheco during their 2019 custody dispute. Renner denied those claims in a later interview with The Guardian, saying he and Pacheco now share joint custody of their daughter.