Former EXO member Kris Wu hit by prison death rumors as Chinese police call reports 'fake'

Rumors claiming that former EXO member Kris Wu has died in prison are spreading across Chinese social media, prompting police to issue an unusual public denial and warn users against circulating unverified claims.

On Thursday, Taiwanese media reported that speculation about Wu’s alleged death was gaining traction among Chinese netizens. The claims began after a user on Weibo — China’s largest social media platform — posted that he was Wu’s “fellow inmate” and alleged that the singer had recently died under suspicious circumstances.

The user wrote that prison guards were “whispering strangely a few days ago” and claimed that Wu had “been killed after failing to meet the demands” by gang members inside the facility. The posts rapidly spread online despite the lack of evidence.

As speculation intensified, Jiangsu Provincial Police posted an official statement on their Weibo account, drawing a clear line under the rumors. Police labeled the posts as fake news and urged users not to spread “unverified information,” adding that those who continue to distribute false claims may face legal consequences under Chinese law.

The controversy comes as global interest remains high in the downfall of Kris Wu, once one of the most internationally visible figures in the K-pop and C-pop industries.

Wu debuted in 2012 as a member of EXO. He left the group in 2014 after filing a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to nullify his exclusive contract. After returning to China, he built a major career as a singer, actor, and fashion ambassador, becoming one of the country’s biggest celebrities.

His career collapsed in 2021 when he was charged with sex crimes involving minors. In 2023, a Beijing court finalized a thirteen-year prison sentence, and he has been incarcerated since.

This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.