‘Avengers’ Icon Accused of Sexual Harassment, New Details Revealed

Jeremy Renner, known for portraying Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is facing new scrutiny following claims made by filmmaker Yi Zhou. The allegations arise during continued industry discussions about how professional and personal boundaries intersect in collaborative creative environments.

Zhou says the situation unfolded during two projects she developed with Renner earlier this year. She alleges the relationship shifted from strictly professional to something shaped by emotional pressure and imbalance.

Allegations Against Jeremy Renner

Zhou claims Renner sent her “unsolicited pornographic images of himself” after initiating contact “out of the blue.” She says he presented the relationship as both creative and romantic, telling her he “was a Hollywood star fantasizing and loving me so much I believed in him.”

Zhou says she invited him into two projects she described as “Oscar running,” believing they shared aligned motivations and trust. The working relationship, she says, deteriorated after she visited his home to discuss their documentary.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Zhou said Renner drank alcohol and became enraged, yelling for hours. “I had to lock myself in a room to be safe,” she said. She shared her location with colleagues because she feared the situation could escalate.

Screenshots shown to the outlet appear to show colleagues urging her to leave immediately. Zhou says she withdrew from both the partnership and personal contact afterward. “He used me and denied me and denied our work,” she said.

Zhou also accuses Renner of refusing to promote the projects and allowing false narratives to circulate. When she confronted him, she says he responded with intimidation. “He threatened to call immigration/ICE on me,” she stated, calling the message “deeply shocking and frightening.”

A screenshot appears to show Renner writing, “Immigration will be notified of your —,” though Zhou declined to release the remainder of the sentence. She described the exchange as indicative of an “imbalance of power that continues to harm women in our industry.”

These allegations follow earlier claims from Renner’s ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco, who once sought sole custody of their daughter and alleged abusive behavior. Renner denied those accusations, calling them “clickbait.” The pair currently shares joint custody.

Renner has recently discussed a potential return to Marvel following his 2023 snowplow accident, which left him with more than 30 broken bones. He has said Marvel offered him “half” of his previous salary for a possible Hawkeye Season 2, suggesting his injuries may have influenced the low terms.

His last full MCU appearance was in Hawkeye (2021), which introduced Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop as a likely future lead. Renner also continues to star in Mayor of Kingstown, maintaining a presence in ongoing film and television work.

As of this writing, Renner has not publicly commented on Zhou’s allegations.