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Eduardo Baptista

Star rapper and singer Kris Wu Yifan was detained by the police in Beijing on suspicion of rape, the latest development in a scandal that has torpedoed the career of one of China’s most influential young celebrities.
A statement on the microblogging platform Weibo by the public security bureau of Chaoyang district in Beijing said a man surnamed Wu, 30, was taken away on Saturday after a police investigation into numerous allegations made online that he lured young women into having sexual relations with him.
The statement did not disclose the full identity of the man, but the social media platform of the Communist Party’s political and legal affairs commission identified him as the Chinese-Canadian pop star.
“You have to abide by Chinese law on the soil of China,” the post said.

The detention comes one week after the police revealed Wu lied about his relationship with Chinese teen beauty influencer Du Meizhu, who has accused Wu of date rape, which can lead to a prison sentence of between three and 10 years, according to China’s penal code.
This contradicted the only public statement Wu has released about Du’s date-rape allegation on his official Weibo account on July 19.
“There was no ‘underage’ [sex], if there was this kind of behavior, everyone please rest assured, I will go into prison myself!” Wu wrote to his 52 million Weibo followers.
The police said last week they were still investigating allegations that Wu had date-raped other young women. “We will act later according to the results of the investigation. So far, we have not received any reports from Du [about Wu date-raping other women] or from other [women].”
Kris Wu had relationship with influencer, police reveal, after he denied it
At the time, however, the police did not say Wu was suspected of rape.
In an interview with Chinese internet portal NetEase on July 18, Du, 18, claimed Wu had had sex with at least seven other girls, and that he had plied them with alcohol and seduced them with promises they would be famous.
The singer, who is of Chinese ethnicity and Canadian nationality, rose to fame as part of the hit K-pop boy band EXO. After a messy break-up with his firm in South Korea, Wu established himself in the Chinese market, modelling for dozens of well-known brands and taking part as a judge on shows like The Rap of China.
But since Du’s allegations spread on Chinese social media, Wu lost his brand deals one by one, including with Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, L’Oreal Men and Porsche.
Academics accused of sexual harassment as #MeToo returns to China
The Chinese authorities’ disapproval was also made clear when state-run broadcaster CCTV published a statement on Weibo naming Wu and saying his scandal showed the need for celebrities to be more socially responsible.
Wu has denied all the allegations and he has sued Du for defamation.
The party-affiliated All-China Women’s Federation, the largest women’s rights organisation in China, commented on the detention on Saturday, writing on Weibo to its audience of 11.9 million followers that a society ruled by law could not “shelter evil people and countenance vile practices” .
“No matter how dazzling the glory, how big the fame, no one has privilege,” the federation wrote.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Crime in China

Chinese-Canadian pop idol Kris Wu detained in Beijing on suspicion of rape

The star rapper Kris Wu has been detained by the police in Beijing on suspicion of rape. Photo: Weibo

=== PHOTO CAPTURED FROM WEIBO === Image of Dou Meizhu. WEIBO

Kris Wu did have a relationship with teen influencer, police in China say after her date-rape allegation against the singer and model

Singer Kris Wu attends a promotional event in Shanghai in May for Seeyoung, one of several Chinese and global brands to announce they were severing ties with him in the wake of the scandal over his alleged date rape of a teenage beauty influencer. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Singer Kris Wu Yifan attends a Porsche event in April 2021 in Shanghai. The German car brand dropped him as a spokesman this week. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Kris Wu wears a Louis Vuitton bag at Paris Fashion Week in June 2019. The luxury brand, having initially suspended him as a brand ambassador, on Friday terminated its relationship with the rapper and model. Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Beauty influencer Du Meizhu, who claims she was date-raped by Kris Wu last December at his home. Police have confirmed she and Wu had a relationship, which the singer had publicly denied. Photo: Du Meizhu

China’s #MeToo movement picks up again after Kris Wu scandal with two academics accused of sexual harassment

Allegations of date rape against celebrity Kris Wu triggered more allegations of sexual harassment against others in China. Photo: Getty

Zhou Xiaoxuan, also known by her online name Xianzi, gestures to supporters as she arrives at a court for a sexual harassment case involving a Chinese state TV host, in Beijing, China December 2, 2020. REUTERS/Florence Lo

***PLEASE CLEAR COPYRIGHT BEFORE REUSE*** Chinese influencer Du Meizhu. CREDIT: Du Meizhu

Louis Vuitton, Porsche drop Kris Wu over date-rape allegation, days after Chinese consumer brands did the same

Kris Wu at an event in Shanghai. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Kris Wu attends a brand event in Shanghai in 2020. Several Chinese and international brands have frozen or severed ties with the rapper and model over a beauty influencer’s allegation he date-raped her and other minors. Wu denies the allegation. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Kris Wu outside the venue of a Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2020. The brand has suspended him as an ambassador. Photo: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Kris Wu at a brand event in Shanghai in 2020. He denies Du Meizhu’s allegations, calling them defamatory. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Beauty influencer Du Meizhu has sent shock waves through the Chinese entertainment industry with her allegations. Photo: courtesy of Weibo/Du Meizhu

Beauty influencer Du Meizhu says she was 17 when Wu got her drunk and raped her. Photo: courtesy of Weibo/Du Meizhu

News

China

People & Culture

China Personalities


Wu has been accused by Chinese teen beauty influencer Du Meizhu, 18, of date rape
The singer says he is innocent and has sued for defamation



Wu has been accused by Chinese teen beauty influencer Du Meizhu, 18, of date rape.


Sexual harassment and assault

Fame and celebrity

Chinese-Canadian pop idol Kris Wu detained in Beijing on suspicion of rape

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Wu has been accused by Chinese teen beauty influencer Du Meizhu, 18, of date rape The singer says he is innocent and has sued for defamation

Wu has been accused by Chinese teen beauty influencer Du Meizhu, 18, of date rape

The singer says he is innocent and has sued for defamation