Chinese Police Deny Viral Rumors of Kris Wu’s Death in Prison
Police in China have officially refuted rampant online rumors claiming that former EXO member Kris Wu had died while serving his sentence.
The rumors began circulating rapidly on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, according to Taiwanese media reports. The speculation was fueled by a user claiming to be incarcerated in the same prison as Wu.
In a viral post, this individual alleged, “A few days ago, a prison guard secretly said something, and suddenly Kris died.” The post then made graphic, unverified claims that Wu was “gang-raped by local organized crime members and then murdered.”
Separately, other rumors suggested Wu had died after his health deteriorated during a hunger strike.
These claims were accompanied by a photo of a man in a blue prison uniform being interrogated. Although the man’s face was blurred, claims that it was Wu spread widely.
In response, the Jiangsu Provincial Police Department issued an official statement on Weibo. Police declared the photo was a fake picture, explaining that the image was “created by using a past news report screen and replacing the original inmate’s face with Kris’s.”
Authorities concluded with a warning, saying, “Do not disseminate unverified information. You may face legal penalties.”
Who is Kris Wu?
For context, Kris Wu first gained fame as a member of the K-pop group EXO. He abruptly left the group in 2014 after debuting as part of the group in 2012 after filing a lawsuit against his agency, SM Entertainment, to nullify his contract.
He then returned to China and became one of the country’s biggest celebrities, with a successful solo career in music and film.
His downfall began in 2021 when he was arrested after a Chinese influencer publicly accused him of sexual assault, claiming the incident occurred when she was 17. Wu was subsequently convicted of sexually assaulting three women, including assaulting one who was intoxicated, and for organizing lewd acts.
His 13-year prison sentence was finalized in 2023, and he is currently serving his time.
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