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Kris Wu rape case

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Kris Wu rape case
Wu in 2017
DateJuly 8, 2021 (2021-07-08)
LocationChina
TypeRape, Licentious activities
TargetDu Meizhu[a] and 2 other female victims
Outcome
  • Wu's arrest, conviction of two crimes, and sentencing to 13 years imprisonment for the first crime and 1 year 10 months for the second crime. Fixed imprisonment term of 13 years. And deportation
  • Losses of sponsorships for Wu
  • Removal of Wu's works and social media accounts from the Chinese market
  • Deportation expected after prison sentence completion

The Kris Wu rape case is a sex crime case involving Chinese-Canadian singer and actor Kris Wu. It started when Du Meizhu, a 19-year-old Chinese university student, released a post on her Weibo account on July 8, 2021, accusing him of raping her and 30 other women (including minors).[1] Her estimate of the number of victims was later changed to 24 and eventually to 8 in her subsequent posts.[2][3][4] Wu denied all accusations.[4]

On July 31, 2021, Wu was detained by the Beijing police on suspicion of rape. On November 25, 2022, Wu was convicted in a Chinese court on two charges: raping "three drunken women" in his home in the months of November and December 2020, and having sexual activities in a group, with two other women in his home on July 1, 2018.[5] The court imposed a fixed term of 13 years after considerations of 11.5 years in prison for the first charge, and one year and ten months for the second charge, to be followed by deportation from China.[5][6][7] He was also fined CN¥600 million (approximately $84 million USD) for tax evasion.[6][8] Wu appealed in court. On November 24, 2023, the appeal was rejected.[9]

People involved

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The following people were involved:[10]

Allegations

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On July 8, 2021, 19-year-old university student Du Meizhu accused Wu of sexual misconduct on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. According to her allegation, when she was still in a relationship with Wu, he raped her after forcing her to drink alcohol. She said that she was 17 at the time of the assault.[13] Alongside her post, she also included pictures and message screenshots to back up her claim after receiving threats from Wu's fans.[14] When Du made her allegations, the police initially discredited her as a fame-seeker.[15]

Following the incident, Du claimed that she was paid hush money by Wu's agency but finally had the courage to speak out two years later.[16] Du also included in another post that there were more instances of Wu getting women drunk and then raping them. She later said that she was not the first nor the last victim, after more women (including two minors) reached out to her to share similar experiences of being lured by Wu.[17][13]

On August 8, 2021, an alleged underage victim from Los Angeles shared her story of attending one of Wu's drinking parties. She told her lawyer, "It's an open secret that he [Wu] selects concubines among international students." She allegedly saw this first-hand when Wu's assistant invited her to a gathering, where the girls had to turn in their phones beforehand to prevent photos and videos from being recorded.[14]

Below are some of the accusations from Du's Weibo posts:

  1. Wu never took any safety precautions when he raped the girls.[18]
  2. Wu would frequently bring young and pretty fan-girls to what he claimed to be a mini fan convention and tell them that more fans were coming. The site of the "convention" would turn out to be a hotel, and when the girls reached their destination they would realize that they were alone in a room with Wu.[18]
  3. Du received a total of CNY 500 thousand (approximately $78 thousand USD) as hush money. Du provided a video of the transaction and said that she was in the process of returning the money.[16]
  4. Du had been invited to Wu's home under the pretence of a work opportunity. She was pressured to drink alcohol and later awoke naked on his bed, discovering she had been raped.[16][17][19]
  5. Wu had a sexually transmitted infection and had infected some of the girls.[20] Some of the girls were also impregnated by him and had abortions.[20]
  6. Seven other women told Du that Wu had raped them after applying the same method he had used on Du, promising jobs and other opportunities.[16]

After Du was interviewed by NetEase, a major news portal, her allegations gained further attention.[18][13]

On his personal Weibo account, Wu denied supplying Du with alcohol, enticing girls to have sex with him in return for benefits, raping them while they were unconscious, or having sex with minors.[17]

Investigation

[edit]

According to a statement released by Beijing Chaoyang Police dated July 21, 2021, using the reason of selecting a female lead for an upcoming music video, Kris Wu's manager arranged for Du Meizhu to attend a party on December 5, 2020 at about 11 p.m. with ten other people. The party wore on to 7 am the following day with the participants playing table games and drinking alcoholic beverages. When the party ended, among the guests, only Du remained in Wu's house. Du and Wu then engaged in sexual activity. Thereafter Du had her lunch at Wu's house before exchanging her contact details with him and leaving in the afternoon. On December 8, 2020, Wu transferred CN¥32,000 to her account.[21] In June 2021, after discussing with her friend, surnamed Liu, Du posted about Wu's way of picking up girls to gain popularity online. Liu then used an Weibo account to accuse Wu of raping Du. Between July 8 and July 11, Du published three more posts. On July 13, an online writer, surnamed Xu, wanting to gain some reputation, reached out to Du. Following a discussion between them, he wrote ten articles posted successively since July 16 under Du's Weibo account.[21] The police started the investigations in response to online allegations, while had yet to receive any police reports from the purported victims.[22]

On July 18, 2021, Liu Tiaotiao (刘迢迢), a scammer, was arrested in Nantong, Jiangsu after he tried to cheat money from Wu's mother and Du by pretending to be involved parties. Liu first pretended to be a female on WeChat to gain information from Du, which was then used to demand CN¥3 million from Wu's lawyer in the form of a settlement. He also pretend to be Wu's lawyer in order to negotiate with Du for a settlement. On July 11, Wu's mother transferred CN¥500,000 to Du's bank account. Liu Tiaotiao then tried to extract the remaining CN¥2.5 million from Wu's lawyer while impersonating Du. Liu Tiaotiao would also impersonate Wu's lawyer to have Du sign a settlement agreement or otherwise return the CN¥500,000, indicating his own bank account as the destination. Du would transfer CN¥180,000 to Liu Tiaotiao's account.[21] On July 22, 2021, A netizen by the name of Wushiyanghao (乌市杨昊) who claimed himself a neighbour of Du Meizhu in Inner Mongolia was arrested by the Ulanhot Police on the charge of defamation.[23]

On July 31, 2021, Wu was detained by the Beijing Chaoyang District police on suspicion of rape after allegedly "repeatedly seducing young women into having sex".[13][24] After the detainment, various government media outlets such as the publications People's Daily and Legal Daily, and broadcaster CCTV sought to drive the message that foreign citizenship or fame are not protections against the Chinese judiciary system.[19]

145 Weibo accounts were closed in August 2021 by the platform for publishing harmful information related to current affairs, defined as anything from "spreading rumors, disrupting state order and undermining social stability" to "publishing negative information that breaks the bottom line of social morality and the system." Some of these accounts were defending Wu over the rape allegations.[25] On August 16, 2021, Kris Wu was formally arrested over allegations of rape.[26]

Trials

[edit]

On June 10, 2022, Chaoyang District People's Court tried the case behind closed doors. The trial was not made public to protect the privacy of the victims involved.[27] On November 25, 2022, the court reached a verdict. Kris Wu was convicted of raping three drunken women in his home between the months of November and December 2020. The court imposed a sentence of 11 years 10 months for this charge. The second charge was what Reuters described as "assembling a crowd to engage in sexual promiscuity" with two women in his home on 1 July 2018. The prison sentence of the second charge was one year and 10 months, followed by deportation from China.[28] At the same time, a fine of CN¥600 million for the tax evasion was imposed as well.[6]

On July 25, 2023, the appeal trial was held at the Third Intermediate People's Court of Beijing. The trial was held in private to protect the privacy of the victims involved.[29] The Canadian embassy was notified in advance, but its request to attend the appeal trial was denied by the Chinese authorities.[30] The appeal was rejected on November 24, 2023 in the presence of Wu, his close relatives, and officials from the Canadian embassy. The court found that the evidence presented in the original trial was reliable and sufficient and that the application of law and his conviction were correct and legal.[31]

Fallout

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Judiciary

[edit]

Wu's arrest came shortly after government body overseeing performing arts issued a new set of regulatory guidelines to regulate the behaviour of performers and celebrities, which require that they "love the motherland" and create art that "serves the people and socialism".[32]

Erasure

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On the evening of August 1, 2021, QQ Music and NetEase Music removed all of Kris Wu's music from the shelves. The official Weibo account of big-budget costume drama The Golden Hairpin, which stars Wu, deleted all posts related to him, leaving only a poster featuring the show's supporting characters. The Golden Hairpin, produced by Tencent Video, is Wu's first TV drama. Wu's account on the short video platform Douyin was also blocked and its followers have been removed, and his Weibo profile has been taken down due to "Complaints in violating the rules and regulations of Weibo's Community Convention".[33]

Brands

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Numerous companies have followed suit in ousting Wu: brand endorsement deals were ended; social media posts that featured him were removed,[4] and he was later blacklisted by several networks. Below is a non-exhaustive list of entities that have either condemned Wu or disassociated themselves from him:

Prior relevant laws and regulations in Mainland China

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Ban of "notorious" artists

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In September 2014, the National Radio and Television Administration issued the "Notice of the National Radio and Television Administration Office on Strengthening the Management of the Production and Distribution of Radio and Television Programs, Film and TV Dramas, and Online Audio-visual Programs". Artists listed in this order are called "notorious" and could face permanent boycott from the industry.[37]

Relevant laws and regulations

[edit]
Wikisource has original text related to this article:

According to Article 236 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, the crime of rape refers to the act of using violence, coercion or other means against a woman's will to forcibly have sexual intercourse with her, or deliberately have sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of fourteen. Anyone who rapes a woman by violence, coercion or other means shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of no less than three years but no more than ten years. Whoever commits adultery with a girl under the age of fourteen shall be punished as severely as rape, up to the death penalty. Anyone who commits a joint offence by two or more persons shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of more than ten years, life imprisonment or a death sentence.[38] In addition, according to the territorial principle, if the crime occurred in China, the same sentences apply regardless of the nationality of the offender.[39]

Because Wu is a Canadian citizen, a conviction by the judiciary of China makes him eligible for deportation from China, since according to Article 35 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, foreigners who commit crimes can face deportation.[40] Some publications pointed out that the Chinese-American lawyer Bao Yuming, who was previously convicted of "violating social ethics and public order and good customs" in his sexual assault case, was deported.[41]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Chinese: 都美竹

References

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  1. ^ Kim, Jo (July 21, 2021). "The Kris Wu Sex Scandal and China's Search for Morality in Public Figures". thediplomat.com. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Huang, Yunxuan (July 18, 2021). "吳亦凡爆「酒局選妃」睡8女！央視出手了 品牌方終止合作". SET News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Zhang, Xiaohan (July 20, 2021). "懶人包／吳亦凡酒局「20女 vs. 4男」！ 4000字揪「完整時間軸」". ETtoday新聞雲 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mei Zi, Tan (July 19, 2021). "Chinese rapper Kris Wu denies accusations he raped over 30 women, including minors". Malay Mail. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Chang, Wayne (November 25, 2022). "Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu sentenced to 13 years of prison for rape in China". CNN. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Yu, Sophie; Pollard, Martin (November 25, 2022). Munroe, Tony; Fernandez, Clarence (eds.). "China sentences Canadian pop singer Kris Wu to 13 years in jail for rape". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "Former EXO member Kris Wu sentenced to 13 years in jail for rape". Philippine Entertainment Portal. November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Lau, Jack (November 25, 2022). "Kris Wu jailed in China for sex crimes, fined US$84m for tax evasion". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  9. ^ Frater, Patrick (July 25, 2023). "Kris Wu, Jailed Chinese Superstar, Appeals Rape Conviction Out of Public View". Variety.
  10. ^ Chang, Wayne (November 25, 2022). "Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu sentenced to 13 years of prison for rape in China". CNN. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  11. ^ Chou, Inna (July 19, 2021). "吳亦凡、都美竹事件整理！私下和解對話曝光、吳亦凡工作室澄清卻遭網打臉". Vogue Taiwan. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Chang, Wayne (November 28, 2022). "Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu sentenced to 13 years of prison for rape in China". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d Yeung, Jessie (August 2, 2021). "Pop star Kris Wu detained in China after rape allegations". CNN. Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Kris Wu vs. Du Meizhu — The Full Timeline Of Events That Has Taken Over Chinese And International Media". Koreaboo. July 19, 2021. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Romano, Aja (October 17, 2022). "Xi Jinping vs fandom". Vox. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d "Brands drop Chinese-Canadian star Kris Wu over sex allegations". BBC News. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "Kris Wu: K-Pop star arrested on suspicion of rape". BBC News. July 31, 2021. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c 网易 (July 18, 2021). "专访都美竹|正分批退50万准备走法律程序 希望我是最后一个受害者". www.163.com. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Birtles, Bill (August 5, 2021). "A Chinese star was accused of rape. What followed offers clues into Beijing's new stance on fame". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "都美竹限吳亦凡24小時宣佈退圈！手握可以送他10年牢飯的證據！曾內涵EXO隊友有狐臭！信息量超多！！". epop - 就愛玩娛樂. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023. [Some sexually abused girls had depression, self mutilated, abortions and had sexually transmitted infections.]
  21. ^ a b c "北京市公安局朝阳分局官方微博(@平安北京朝阳 )" [Beijing police report on the investigation into the case involving Du Meizhi and Kris Wu]. 观察者 (in Chinese). July 21, 2021. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  22. ^ 编辑/白龙, 北京青年报 记者 叶婉 (July 22, 2021). "吴亦凡事件通报详细版：性关系属实 "决战"千字文系编撰 "认罪书"缘起诈骗犯". 北京青年报客户端.
  23. ^ @红城警察, 乌兰浩特市公安局官方微博 (July 22, 2021). "一网民蹭吴某某网络热度布侮辱他人信息被查处". 乌兰浩特警方通报. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  24. ^ Davis, Rebecca (July 31, 2021). "Kris Wu Detained by Chinese Police on Suspicion of Rape". Variety. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  25. ^ Staff, The Associated Press (August 23, 2021). "China's Weibo shuts accounts defending Kris Wu allegations". CTV News. p. 2.
  26. ^ Yeung, Jessie; Gan, Nectar (August 16, 2021). "Pop star Kris Wu formally arrested in China on suspicion of rape". CNN. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  27. ^ Wang in Beijing, Amber (June 11, 2022). "" Chinese-Canadian rapper Kris Wu tried for rape by Beijing court "". South China Morning Post.
  28. ^ 案件通报, 北京朝阳法院 (November 25, 2022). "吴亦凡一审被判十三年". 北京朝阳法院. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  29. ^ "吴亦凡涉强奸聚众淫乱案二审开庭 | 联合早报" [The second trial of Kris Wu's rape case is being held]. www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). July 25, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  30. ^ "Canadian diplomats denied access to Kris Wu's appeal trial in China". Reuters. July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  31. ^ Cao, Ella; Woo, Ryan; Hall, Casey. "Chinese court rejects Canadian pop star Kris Wu's appeal". Reuters. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  32. ^ "A Chinese star was accused of rape. What followed offers clues into Beijing's new stance on fame". ABC News. August 5, 2021.
  33. ^ Lu, Fan, ed. (August 1, 2021). "吴亦凡被刑拘后遭全网封杀！社交账号被封 所有音乐作品下架". Phoenix Media Investment. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  34. ^ a b c Suen, Zoe (July 23, 2021). "Louis Vuitton Terminates Kris Wu Contract After Police Investigation". The Business of Fashion. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h Wang, Minnie (July 20, 2021). "Brands cut ties with Chinese star Kris Wu over rape and teen sex allegations | Advertising". Campaign Asia. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  36. ^ a b c d Zhang, Tianwei (July 19, 2021). "Louis Vuitton Ends Kris Wu Endorsement Over Predatory Claims". WWD. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  37. ^ Xu, Yongwei, ed. (February 5, 2021). ""劣迹艺人"惩戒复出程序业内首次明确 或被永久抵制". Sina Finance (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on November 25, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  38. ^ "吃了两天瓜，也该正经聊点法律问题了！". China News Service (in Simplified Chinese). July 22, 2021. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  39. ^ "吴亦凡被指涉嫌性侵："即使他是加拿大人 中国也有权管辖"". 新浪网 (in Chinese). July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  40. ^ ""吴亦凡事件"法律问题分析" [Analysis of the legal issues involved in the "Wu Yifan case"]. 新浪司法 (in Chinese). July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  41. ^ Yi, Bing (July 20, 2021). Shen, Hua; Hong, Wei (eds.). "男星吴亦凡引舆论风暴 事实不清央视忙发声" [Wu Yifan causes an uproar in public opinion. The facts are unclear. The CCTV is working on it.]. Radio Free Asia (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
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