Canadian Chinese pop singer Chris Wu, once one of China’s most popular entertainers, was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison after being convicted of rape in a Beijing court. became one of the country’s most prominent figures. Regarding #MeToo allegations.
of statement on social media Beijing’s Chaoyang District People’s Court said Wu was found guilty of taking advantage of three drunk women and forcing them to have sex at home in 2020. the court said.
Before his arrest in 2021, Wu, known in China as Wu Yifang, was a social media superstar with tens of millions of followers. Born in China and raised partly in Canada, he rose to fame as a member of his South Korean pop band, EXO, before establishing a successful solo career as a model, singer and actor. He had endorsement contracts with more than a dozen of his well-known brands nationally and internationally, including Bvlgari, Louis Vuitton and Porsche.
But his career fell apart when an 18-year-old college student accused him of luring young women like him into his home to discuss future career opportunities, then forcing them to drink alcohol and then force them to have sex. Did. The accuser, Du Meizhu, said he believed Wu had done the same to other young women.
Initially, police’s preliminary findings into her allegations said she exaggerated her story “to increase her online popularity,” sparking outrage by her supporters and costing authorities. It provoked accusations of humiliating people.
This helps amplify Du’s allegations, which often discourage women from filing complaints of sexual misconduct, and that victims of sexual assault and harassment are frequently targeted for abuse online. ,Furthermore be sued for defamation.
“Finally the day has come” Written by Du “I am very grateful to China’s legal system, which does not tolerate criminals, even if they are big stars,” he said on the country’s popular Weibo social media platform after the prison sentence was announced. she added later.
After Mr. Wu was detained last year, the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda agency welcomed his arrest: lessons for celebrities That fame doesn’t keep them from justice.
In its statement, the court said he would also be deported. Officials from the Canadian Embassy in China attended the sentencing hearing, the court said. Wu, who denied the charges when the allegations first surfaced, has the right to appeal his conviction and 13 years in prison. Mr. Wu’s lawyer was not immediately reachable.
In a separate announcement, the Chinese government said it would demand 600 million yuan (about $83 million) in tax evasion, late fees and fines from Wu. According to Xinhuathe national news agency.
Supporters of China’s fledgling #MeToo movement said the conviction, if valid, would serve as a warning to perpetrators of sexual misconduct.
Huang Simin, a human rights lawyer based in mainland China who has worked on cases related to sexual violence, said: Some women will have the courage to come out,” she said. .