BEIJING (SCMP): Widespread rumours claiming that former K-pop idol Kris Wu had died in prison after failing to meet gang demands have rocked mainland social media.
Chinese-Canadian actor and singer Wu, who debuted in 2012 as a member of supergroup EXO before launching a solo career in China as a singer, artist, actor and fashion ambassador, saw his career collapse in 2021 after he was charged with sex crimes involving minors.
In 2023, a Beijing court sentenced him to 13 years in prison followed by deportation. His appeal was rejected.
In the wake of the scandal, a slew of domestic and international brands severed their ties with him.
Recently, while serving a prison sentence for sex crimes, he became the subject of widespread online rumours alleging he had died.
The speculation was fuelled by unverified posts and anonymous messages circulating across multiple mainland social media platforms and forums.
One purported prison inmate claimed that guards had been “whispering strangely a few days ago” and shockingly alleged that Wu had been “killed after failing to meet demands” from gang members inside the prison.
Other versions suggested Wu had died from “long-term refusal to eat”, leading to physical weakness and eventual death.
Some posts even alleged that he had been silenced for “knowing too much” about another famous Chinese star’s controversial death, while others claimed he had been a victim of sexual assault.
It is not the first time Wu has been declared “dead” online.
Similar rumours surfaced in April, claiming he had died during a prison fight, though no official confirmation ever followed.
As of now, the Chaoyang District Public Security Bureau in Beijing, which has jurisdiction over Wu’s case, has not responded to the rumours.
According to China’s Public Security Administrative Punishment Law, people found guilty of spreading false rumours can be detained for five to 10 days and fined up to 500 yuan (US$70).
In less serious cases, the penalty can be detention for up to five days or a fine of less than 500 yuan.
Online observers have expressed growing frustration over the repeated circulation of false reports.
One person said: “This rumour is getting more absurd day by day.”
Another added: “One minute they say he bit his tongue and died, the next that he injected himself to death. It is all nonsense.
“Prisons are highly regulated. How could something like this happen so easily? We should focus more on the legal process and less on these outrageous rumours.” -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
