Kris Wu

Early life and immigration to Canada

Kris Wu was born Li Jiaheng in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, on November 6, 1990. Shortly after his birth, he was sent to live with his grandparents in Baiyin, Gansu, until he returned to Guangzhou at age five to begin primary school. His parents divorced when he was ten years old, after which he adopted his mother's surname, Wu, for his Chinese name. His mother, Stacey Yu Wu, initially travelled frequently between Canada and China to manage her business before eventually closing her operations to focus full time on her son's upbringing and career.

In 2005, Wu returned to Guangzhou with his mother for a year, where he attended Guangzhou No. 7 Middle School and served as captain of the school basketball team. Despite his aspirations to become a professional basketball player, his mother disagreed with this path. After his mother finalized her business affairs, she brought him back to Vancouver against his wishes. In Canada, he attended Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School before transferring to Point Grey Secondary School. During his high school years, Wu worked as a server at an Asian karaoke parlour to help alleviate his mother's financial pressures.

In 2007, at age 16, Wu attended the SM Entertainment global auditions held in Vancouver, accompanying a friend. After passing several selection rounds, he travelled to Seoul, South Korea, with his mother that winter to pursue a trainee contract. That same year, he legally changed his name to Wu Yi Fan. In later interviews, he cited a tense relationship with his mother and the financial burden of university tuition as key factors in his decision to pursue a career in South Korea. In the summer of 2008, Wu moved to Seoul alone, living in a trainee dormitory near SM Entertainment's headquarters in the Gangnam district and undergoing four years of intensive training, during which he befriended American-Korean trainee Kevin Shin.

Career in music and entertainment

Wu was officially introduced as the eleventh member of the K-pop group Exo on February 17, 2012. The group debuted in April 2012 and rapidly achieved international popularity, with their 2013 studio album XOXO and hit single Growl becoming major commercial successes. XOXO sold over one million copies, marking the first time in twelve years a Korea-based artist had reached that milestone and making it the 12th best selling album of all time in Korea. Before his departure from the group, Wu was featured on Exo's 2014 album Overdose, which became the best selling album of that year in South Korea.

Wu initiated his solo career in China in July 2014 with the soundtrack single Time Boils the Rain for the film Tiny Times 3. His early solo endeavours were met with significant recognition, including being named Newcomer of the Year by Esquire China in 2015. That same year, at age 24, he became the youngest celebrity to have a wax figure installed at Madame Tussauds Shanghai. His film career began in 2015 with a leading role in Somewhere Only We Know, which debuted at number one at the Chinese box office, grossing US$37.81 million in its first six days. He won the Best Newcomer Award at the 3rd China International Film Festival London for this performance.

His subsequent film roles demonstrated his rising star power in Chinese cinema. He starred in the critically acclaimed Mr. Six in 2015, which closed the Venice Film Festival and grossed over US$137 million in China. He also starred alongside Liu Yifei in So Young 2: Never Gone and the romance melodrama Sweet Sixteen the same year. For his work in Sweet Sixteen, he won the Best Actor award at the Gold Crane Awards and the Newcomer with the Most Media Attention award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Wu also starred in the blockbuster fantasy film L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties, directed by Guo Jingming.

Wu's career expanded internationally with significant milestones in 2016 and 2017. He made his runway debut at the Burberry Fall 2016 Men's Show in London and participated as a member of Team Canada in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, coached by Drake. His Hollywood debut came in January 2017 in XXX: Return of Xander Cage, for which he released the soundtrack single Juice featuring Vin Diesel. He then starred as Tang Sanzang in Stephen Chow's Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back. In February 2017, he represented China at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and played in his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. Forbes listed him on their 30 Under 30 Asia 2017 list. In July 2017, he appeared in Luc Besson's science fiction film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

In music, Wu achieved a notable milestone in October 2017 when his single Deserve, featuring American rapper Travis Scott, reached number one on the US iTunes chart, making him the first Chinese artist to do so. He released further singles B.M. and Miss You featuring Zhao Liying at the end of 2017. His debut studio album, Antares, was released on November 2, 2018, through a partnership between Universal Music China, Interscope Records, and Island Records, featuring the singles Like That and Freedom with Jhené Aiko. In 2019, he released the single Big Bowl, Thick Noodle, whose music video garnered over 90 million views on Miaopai, and began his Alive Tour across China. His 2020 EP, Testing, set a record on the Tencent platform QQ Music by receiving one million pre orders within 87 minutes of its release.

Wu's major career milestones include:

• 2012: Debuted as a member of Exo and Exo-M.
• 2015: Became the youngest celebrity with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds Shanghai. Won Best Newcomer at the China International Film Festival London.
• 2016: Made runway debut for Burberry. Played in the NBA All-Star Game for Team Canada.
• 2017: First Chinese artist to top the US iTunes chart with Deserve. Named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list. Hollywood debut in XXX: Return of Xander Cage.
• 2018: Released debut international album Antares.
• 2019: Launched the Alive Tour in China.
• 2020: EP Testing achieved one million pre orders in 87 minutes on QQ Music.

Brand endorsements and public roles

Kris Wu was one of the most sought after brand ambassadors in China during his peak, securing partnerships that broke new ground for Asian celebrities in global luxury marketing. In 2016, he achieved a landmark appointment by becoming the first non British and first Asian global ambassador for the heritage brand Burberry. Industry reports noted that his campaign with Burberry contributed to measurable growth in sales and brand awareness specifically among Chinese shoppers. That same year, Mercedes Benz selected him as the brand ambassador for its Smart division in China, commemorating the partnership with a limited edition Kris Wu Edition Smart car. He also served as the first endorser for the ready to drink cocktail brand Mixxtail and was named the global ambassador for the I.T Cashback Card under American Express Hong Kong, a role that expanded to include being chief design advisor and the face of their in house brand, Under Garden, for which he designed the lookbook.

In 2017, he added high jewellery to his credentials, making his international debut as a brand ambassador for Bulgari at the BaselWorld watch and jewellery show. Beyond commercial endorsements, Wu held several appointed public service and cultural roles. In 2015, he was appointed the youth ambassador for the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival in Xi'an. He was also named an ambassador for China's Jr. NBA program, participating as a mentor in the program designed to encourage youth basketball development across the country.

Philanthropic activities

Wu participated in several charitable initiatives during his career, aligning himself with causes related to children's health and sports. In June 2014, he joined the Heart Ali charity project, founded by actress Fan Bingbing and Beijing Maite Media general manager Chen Lizhi. This project was aimed at providing medical assistance to children suffering from congenital heart defects in the remote Ngari Prefecture of Tibet. His most significant personal philanthropic project was launched on January 21, 2016, in collaboration with major Chinese media platforms. Called the Extraordinary Honorary Court, the project was a collaboration with Sina, Weibo Sports, and Weibo Charity designed to promote basketball in Chinese middle schools and encourage young athletes to pursue their dreams in the sport. The launch of this initiative coincided with his official role as an ambassador and mentor for China's Jr. NBA program, linking his philanthropic efforts directly with his public advocacy for youth basketball.

Legal issues, controversies and contract disputes

Wu's career was marked by significant legal battles, beginning with his departure from Exo. On May 15, 2014, he filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to terminate his exclusive contract, a move the agency claimed took them completely by surprise. In response, SM Entertainment filed a countersuit in the Beijing court in July 2015, alleging that Wu's unsanctioned solo activities in China infringed on the company's and other Exo members' rights and caused great financial harm. Wu defended himself by stating the company's mistreatment had led to serious health issues, revealing he had been diagnosed with myocarditis and had to take medication to work from July 2013 to January 2014. A settlement was eventually reached, allowing Wu to manage his own activities everywhere except in Korea and Japan, where SM Entertainment retained management rights.

Prior to the major criminal case, Wu was involved in other controversies and lawsuits related to his personal life. In 2016, internet influencer Little G Na (Huang Kaijia) claimed to be his girlfriend and leaked intimate photos, which Wu's studio stated were fabricated. During this period, Weibo user Wang Jisheng created the hashtag Paowang Wu Yi Fan (sex king Wu Yi Fan), leading to a defamation lawsuit from Wu. On January 12, 2017, the court ruled in Wu's favour, awarding him 32,200 RMB in damages, an amount that bankrupted Wang. In August 2021, after Wu's arrest for rape, his lawyer in that defamation case returned 10,000 RMB in legal fees to Wang to support his livelihood. In 2018, rumours emerged online that Wu held a bride show at a Los Angeles nightclub, which his studio denied and for which the original poster later apologized.

The most severe legal issues culminated in his 2021 arrest and imprisonment. The case began in July 2021 when Du Meizhu publicly accused Wu of sexual misconduct, alleging he lured women, including at least seven other victims and two minors, into alcohol fuelled sexual encounters under the guise of offering career opportunities. Wu's mother reported alleged blackmail attempts to police, which led to an investigation where it was discovered a hairstylist, Liu Tiaotiao, was defrauding both parties online. Wu was detained by Beijing police on July 31, 2021, and formally arrested on August 16, prompting over a dozen brands like Louis Vuitton to sever ties with him.

On November 25, 2022, the Chaoyang District Court in Beijing sentenced him to 13 years in prison: 11 years and six months for the rape of three intoxicated women and one year and ten months for organizing group sex. The court also ordered his deportation after serving his sentence and imposed a fine of CN¥600 million for tax evasion. Wu appealed the verdict. Following Du's allegations, her ex boyfriend and others involved in the initial accusations publicly turned against her, claiming she had fabricated key details. The Third Intermediate Court of Beijing heard Wu's appeal on July 25, 2023, and rejected it on November 24, 2023.

After the appeal ruling, Wu's mother issued a lengthy statement claiming all three victims were adults who had never reported the incidents and had initially boasted about their encounters. She alleged one woman maintained the encounter was consensual until after five lengthy police interrogation sessions, and that another, an entertainer who dated Wu for two months, offered to testify that their encounter was consensual but was rejected by the court. She pointed to the later disciplining of the lead official on the case as evidence of misconduct and vowed to continue appealing. In a related civil matter, Du Meizhu faced legal consequences for her role in the publicity surrounding the case. In 2024, a donor accused her of fraud, leading to a defamation lawsuit. In 2025, the Lingling District Court in Yongzhou ordered Du to pay damages, and when she refused, the court initiated compulsory enforcement proceedings in 2026.

Forbes China Celebrity 100 rankings and commercial impact

Kris Wu's commercial success and fame in China were quantitatively reflected in his placements on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list, which ranks the country's most influential celebrities based on income and exposure. His ranking demonstrated a rapid ascent to the top tier of Chinese entertainment, coinciding with his expanding filmography and endorsement portfolio. The following table shows his ranking over several key years during his active career. His peak ranking of 8th in 2020 occurred just a year before his arrest, indicating his significant market influence at the very height of his career. These rankings consolidated his status as one of the most bankable and visible celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry during that period, directly contributing to his value for major brand partnerships and box office draw.

Questions about Kris Wu

Why was Kris Wu sentenced to prison and what was the fine for?

Kris Wu was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Chaoyang District Court in Beijing in November 2022 after being found guilty of rape and organizing group sex. The court specifically convicted him of raping three intoxicated women. In addition to the prison sentence, he was fined CN¥600 million (approximately US$84 million) for tax evasion. The court also ordered that he be deported from China after he completes his prison sentence, a ruling that was upheld when his appeal was rejected in November 2023.

What were some of Kris Wu's major films and international appearances?

Kris Wu starred in several major films in China and Hollywood. His Chinese film roles include Mr. Six (2015), which closed the Venice Film Festival, and Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017). His Hollywood debut was in XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017) alongside Vin Diesel, followed by a role in Luc Besson's Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017). He also made notable international appearances at the Burberry Fall 2016 runway show in London, the 59th Grammy Awards in 2017, and played in the NBA All Star Celebrity Game in both 2016 and 2017.

Did Kris Wu win any awards for his work in film and music?

Yes, Kris Wu received several awards during his career. For his film work, he won the Best Newcomer Award at the 3rd China International Film Festival London for Somewhere Only We Know. For his performance in Sweet Sixteen, he won the Best Actor award at the Gold Crane Awards and the Newcomer with the Most Media Attention award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. In music and influence, he was named Newcomer of the Year by Esquire China in 2015 and was listed on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2017.

What was the outcome of the legal actions involving his accuser, Du Meizhu?

Following the criminal case against Wu, his primary public accuser, Du Meizhu, became involved in separate civil litigation. In 2024, a donor who had supported her during the allegations accused her of fraud, which led to a defamation lawsuit against Du. In 2025, the Lingling District Court in Yongzhou, Hunan province, ruled against Du, ordering her to pay damages to the plaintiff. When Du Meizhu refused to comply with the court's monetary judgment, the court initiated compulsory enforcement proceedings against her in 2026 to recover the owed damages.

Is Kris Wu a Canadian citizen?

Yes, Kris Wu is a Canadian citizen. He attended Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School and later Point Grey Secondary School in Vancouver. His Canadian citizenship remained throughout his career as a rapper and actor in South Korea and China. Following his conviction in China, it was confirmed he would be deported after serving his prison sentence.

Sources and further reading

• Kris Wu (Wikipedia)
• Kris Wu: albums, songs, concerts (deezer.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-31.