Kris Wu: Chinese Appeal Court Rejects Appeal Against 13-Year Jail Term
Kris Wu, the Chinese Canadian rapper and actor, also known as Wu Yifei.
In July, the Beijing No. 3 People’s Intermediate Court conducted the appeal hearing privately, away from the public and cameras, and announced that the verdict would be delivered at a later date.
Reports indicate that family and representatives from the Canadian Embassy were in attendance for the Friday verdict.
Rape, Lewdness
Last November, Wu received a 13-year sentence from the Chaoyang District People’s Court.
This comprised 11.5 years for rape and an additional 22 months for «group lewdness.»
Upon serving his sentence, he will face deportation from China. Additionally, Wu was fined $64 million for tax evasion.
The Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People's Court affirmed the trial court's decision, stating that Wu, deemed the ringleader, organized a crowd for lewd activities, thus committing the crime of group licentiousness.
Date-raping while drunk
In July 2021, Du Meizhu, then 18, a beauty industry influencer, made allegations against Wu.
Du Meizhu took to used social media and accused the musician and actor of date-raping her at a time when she was drunk while she was 1.
Du also accused Wu of doing the same to two minors and other young women. In China the age of sexual consent is 14.
Wu, originally from China but now a naturalized Canadian, gained immense fame in China with over 15 significant brand endorsements.
However, all these associations have been severed since.
A former member of the K-pop band EXO, he entered Hollywood through his debut role in «xXx: The Return of Xander Cage.”
Consulate representatives have been actively involved in Wu's case, offering consular aid to him and his family, as stated by Berube in a Reuters
