Kris Wu formally arrested for rape charges, the singer's shows deleted online

Although China-born Kris Wu is a Canadian citizen, he will be tried in China according to Chinese law. Photo: Handout

A Chinese court formally approved the arrest of pop icon Kris Wu on rape charges on Monday (Aug 16) - and Chinese streamers have swiftly responded by deleting the shows in which he appears.

The move comes after Wu was first detained on July 31 on suspicions of rape. The allegations against him first emerged last month after Du Meizhu, 18, accused him on social media of date-raping her while she was drunk, and doing the same to other young women. He denied the charges at the time.