Chinese Police Deny Viral Rumors About Kris Wu’s Prison Death

Recent online rumors claiming former EXO member Kris Wu had died in prison have been officially declared false by Chinese authorities. Police quickly responded to speculation about the incarcerated artist’s death, warning the public against spreading unverified information.

The Origin of the Rumors

In early November 2025, rumors began circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo, claiming Kris Wu had died while serving his prison sentence. The speculation gained traction after posts from an account claiming to be a fellow inmate alleged Wu was beaten to death after refusing the sexual demands of a prison gang leader. Another unverified theory suggested he died following a prolonged hunger strike that severely deteriorated his health.

A digitally manipulated photo also spread online, showing a man resembling Wu in a prison uniform. Authorities later confirmed this image was fabricated, with Wu’s face edited onto an existing picture from an unrelated news report.

Official Police Denial

As the rumors gained momentum, police in China’s Jiangsu Province issued an unusually swift public denial. Authorities released a statement via Weibo, firmly denouncing the speculation as “false information” and “fake news.” The statement clarified that Wu is alive and serving his sentence, warning that spreading unverified claims could lead to legal consequences.

This is not the first time such rumors have surfaced; similar claims about Wu’s death have emerged multiple times since his imprisonment began, all proving to be unfounded. Chinese authorities have maintained their policy of not disclosing Wu’s specific prison location or the conditions of his incarceration.

Kris Wu’s Legal Situation

Kris Wu, whose full name is Wu Yifan, is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence following his conviction in November 2022. The Beijing Chaoyang District People’s Court found him guilty of rape and organizing group lewd acts. The court specified that he received 11 years and six months for rape, plus one year and 10 months for the additional charge.

The charges stemmed from incidents between November and December 2020, where Wu was convicted of raping an intoxicated woman at his home on several occasions. He also faced charges for engaging in obscene acts with women at his residence in July 2018.

After completing his prison term, the Canadian-born artist is expected to be deported from China to Canada.

Wu was previously a member of the popular K-pop group EXO from 2012 to 2014 before leaving to pursue a solo career in China. His high-profile career collapsed in 2021 when multiple allegations of sexual misconduct emerged, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial.

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