Former K-pop star Kris Wu has appealed his 13-year prison sentence for rape in Beijing. The Chinese-Canadian artist, whose real name is Wu Yi Fan, appeared in court on July 25, 2023, to challenge his conviction. Last November, Wu was sentenced to 13 years in prison and deportation after being found guilty of rape, sexual assault, grooming, and engaging in lewd group activities.
The appeal took place at the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court, away from public view to protect the privacy of the victims. Chinese media reported that the hearing was conducted urgently and completed in a day. The details of the appeal have not been made public, and the verdict will be revealed at a later undisclosed date.
Kris Wu, once one of China’s most prominent artists, achieved widespread popularity both in China and worldwide. He had numerous endorsement deals and appeared on various variety shows. At one point, he had 50 million followers on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform.
The allegations against Wu surfaced in 2021 when Chinese beauty influencer Du Meizhu accused him of rape. She claimed that Wu cheated her and sought out underage girls under the guise of casting females for his music videos. Du Meizhu also accused him of forcing the girls to drink alcohol before taking advantage of them. Following her public accusations, other victims came forward with similar accounts.
Initially denying the allegations, Wu was detained by the Chaoyang police in July 2021 on suspicion of rape. Later, the police reportedly found evidence of his crimes. Subsequently, his presence on Chinese social media platforms was deleted, and he was officially arrested in August 2021.
Last year, the Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court sentenced Kris Wu to 13 years in prison and deportation. The court found him guilty of raping three women between November and December 2020. The majority of the sentence, 11 years and six months, was for the rape charges, while the remaining 22 months were for participating in promiscuous group activities.
In relation to his recent appeal, the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People’s Court informed the Canadian embassy about Wu’s hearing and assured that his rights were protected in accordance with the law. However, Canadian diplomats were denied access to the appeal trial.
The outcome of Kris Wu’s appeal remains undisclosed. His case represents a significant downfall for the former K-pop idol, who once enjoyed remarkable success in the entertainment industry. As the situation unfolds, the public and fans await further updates on the ongoing legal proceedings.
