Former EXO Member Kris Wu Denies Death Rumors, Chinese Police Debunk Doctored Prison Photo

Death rumors surrounding former EXO member Kris Wu (35, Wu Yifan), who is currently serving time in China for sex offense charges, have been actively addressed by Chinese police authorities.

The rumors, which rapidly spread across local SNS and Taiwanese media, originated from an online user claiming to be a fellow inmate.

Claims such as "suddenly heard news of his death through a prison guard," "rumors of being murdered after gang rape," and "died due to a prolonged hunger strike" were rampant.

As the rumors spiraled out of control, Jiangsu Provincial Police in China issued an unusual statement on their official Weibo account, denying the death rumors and clarifying the situation.

Specifically addressing a recent prison photo circulating with the rumors, the police officially stated, "This is a manipulated fake photo that uses past news footage, replacing the original inmate's face with Kris Wu's."

While Chinese authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding Kris Wu's condition or the death rumors, police stepping in to point out the photo manipulation and refute the rumors is considered an exceptional move.

Meanwhile, some local and mainstream media outlets are repeatedly issuing warnings about potential legal punishment for spreading unverified rumors, urging caution against the proliferation of misinformation.

Kris Wu, a Chinese-Canadian national, debuted as a member of EXO in 2012. He left the group in 2014 after filing a lawsuit against SM Entertainment and subsequently moved to China to pursue a career as an actor and singer.

While active in China, Kris Wu was indicted in December 2020 on charges of sexually assaulting three women by force while they were intoxicated at his home. In 2023, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison and is currently incarcerated. Upon completion of his sentence, he is scheduled to be deported to his home country, Canada.

Despite the official clarification from Chinese police, fans expressed lingering anxiety, commenting, "What is the truth?" and "Please let it not be true." Some also noted, "It's sad to see him in prison, even if the photo is manipulated."