History of Kris Wu in Timeline

"Kris Wu, formerly known as Wu Yi Fan, is a Chinese Canadian rapper, actor, and convicted serial rapist. He gained fame as a member of the K-pop group Exo but left in 2014 to pursue a solo career. He achieved success in China through music and acting, starring in blockbuster films like 'Mr. Six' and 'Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back'. However, his career was overshadowed by his conviction for serial rape, leading to his imprisonment and removal from public life."

November 6, 1990: Birth of Kris Wu

Kris Wu was born on November 6, 1990.

February 17, 2012: Introduction as Exo Member

Kris Wu was introduced as the eleventh member of the K-pop group Exo.

April 2012: Debut with Exo

Exo, with Kris Wu as a member, made their debut and quickly gained popularity in South Korea and internationally.

2012: Successful Audition and Trainee Period

At 18, Kris Wu successfully auditioned for SM Entertainment and became a trainee, eventually being offered a role in Exo.

July 2013: Health Issues and Mistreatment Allegations

In July 2013, Kris Wu allegedly began experiencing health issues due to mistreatment and neglect from SM Entertainment, forcing him to rely on medication to work.

2013: Commercial Success with "XOXO" and "Growl"

Exo, including Kris Wu, achieved commercial success with their album "XOXO" and the song "Growl."

January 2014: Myocarditis Diagnosis

By January 2014, Kris Wu's health condition worsened, leading to a diagnosis of myocarditis. He continued to allege mistreatment by SM Entertainment during this time.

May 15, 2014: Lawsuit Against SM Entertainment

On May 15, 2014, Kris Wu filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to terminate his contract, a move that surprised the agency despite past contract disputes.

May 2014: Release of "Overdose" Album

Kris Wu was featured on Exo's album "Overdose," which was released in May 2014 and achieved commercial success.

June 2014: Participation in Heart Ali Charity Project

In June 2014, Kris Wu joined the Heart Ali charity project, which supports children with heart defects in Tibet.

July 2014: Release of "Time Boils the Rain"

Kris Wu released "Time Boils the Rain" for the "Tiny Times 3" soundtrack in July 2014.

2014: Departure from Exo

Kris Wu left the South Korean-Chinese boy band Exo in 2014 to pursue a solo career.

February 14, 2015: Film Debut in "Somewhere Only We Know"

Kris Wu's debut film, "Somewhere Only We Know," premiered on February 14, 2015, and achieved box office success.

July 30, 2015: SM Entertainment Files Lawsuit

On July 30, 2015, SM Entertainment filed a lawsuit against Kris Wu and his Chinese collaborators, alleging infringement of EXO's rights and financial harm. Wu defended himself, claiming mistreatment and neglect by the agency.

2015: Youth Ambassador for Silk Road International Film Festival

Kris Wu became the youth ambassador for the Silk Road International Film Festival.

January 21, 2016: Launch of Extraordinary Honorary Court and Jr. NBA Ambassadorship

On January 21, 2016, Kris Wu launched his charity project, Extraordinary Honorary Court, in collaboration with Sina, Weibo Sports, and Weibo Charity to promote basketball in Chinese middle schools. He was also appointed as the ambassador for China's Jr. NBA program.

2016: Cheating Allegations

A woman claiming to be Kris Wu's ex-girlfriend accused him of cheating.

2016: Runway Debut and NBA All-Star Game

Kris Wu made his runway debut at Burberry's Fall 2016 Men's Show and participated in the NBA All-Star Game.

2016: Brand Endorsements and Ambassadorships

Kris Wu secured several brand endorsements and ambassadorships, including Mixxtail, Mercedes-Benz, I.T Cashback Card, and Burberry.

January 2017: Hollywood Debut in "XXX: Return of Xander Cage"

Kris Wu debuted in Hollywood with "XXX: Return of Xander Cage" and released the single "Juice" featuring Vin Diesel.

February 2017: Grammy Awards and Second NBA All-Star Game

Kris Wu attended the Grammy Awards and participated in the NBA All-Star Game for the second time in February 2017.

July 2017: Role in "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets"

Kris Wu starred in Luc Besson's "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" in July 2017.

October 2017: Release of "Deserve" Featuring Travis Scott

Kris Wu released "Deserve" with Travis Scott, becoming the only Chinese artist to top the US iTunes chart.

2017: Brand Ambassador for Bulgari

Kris Wu was named the international brand ambassador for Bulgari.

April 2018: International Music Distribution Deal

Kris Wu secured a deal for international distribution of his music, excluding Japan and Korea.

November 2, 2018: Release of Debut Album "Antares"

Kris Wu released his first album, "Antares," featuring the singles "Like That" and "Freedom."

2018: Role in "Europe Raiders"

Kris Wu starred in the Hong Kong action film "Europe Raiders" alongside Tony Leung.

April 19, 2019: Release of "Big Bowl, Thick Noodle"

Kris Wu's single "Big Bowl, Thick Noodle" was released with a music video that went viral.

August 2019: Support for Chinese Flag During Hong Kong Protests

During the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests, Kris Wu showed support for the Chinese flag on Weibo.

November 6, 2019: Release of "Eternal Love"

On his 29th birthday, Kris Wu released "Eternal Love" and a micro film starring himself and Kōki.

April 22, 2020: Release of "Testing" EP

Kris Wu released the four-track EP "Testing," which received a million pre-orders in just 87 minutes.

December 5, 2020: Alleged Rape of Du Meizhu

Du Meizhu accused Kris Wu of raping her on December 5, 2020, when she was 18 years old. This accusation was part of a larger pattern of sexual assault allegations made against Wu.

July 8, 2021: Sexual Assault Allegations Surface

On July 8, 2021, Du Meizhu, a 19-year-old Chinese college student, publicly accused Kris Wu of sexual assault. She alleged a pattern of abuse involving multiple women and girls, some underage, occurring while they were intoxicated and unconscious.

July 31, 2021: Detention in Beijing

On July 31, 2021, Kris Wu was detained by police in Beijing following the sexual assault allegations made against him.

August 16, 2021: Formal Arrest for Rape

On August 16, 2021, Kris Wu was formally arrested on suspicion of rape, marking a serious escalation in the legal proceedings against him.

2021: Loss of Brand Deals Due to Rape Allegations

Following the rape allegations, numerous brands, including Bulgari, Lancôme, Louis Vuitton, and Porsche, cut ties with Kris Wu.

2021: Rape Allegations Surface and Investigation

In 2021, allegations of rape against Kris Wu emerged on Chinese social media, leading to an investigation by Chinese authorities.

November 25, 2022: Sentencing for Rape and Tax Evasion

On November 25, 2022, Kris Wu was sentenced to 13 years in prison for rape and fined CN¥600 million for tax evasion.

July 25, 2023: Appeal Trial Held

On July 25, 2023, Kris Wu's appeal trial was held in private at the Third Intermediate People's Court of Beijing. This followed his previous sentencing for rape and group lewdness.

November 2023: Appeal of Rape Conviction Denied

In November 2023, Kris Wu's appeal of his rape conviction was denied.

November 24, 2023: Appeal Rejected, Original Judgement Upheld

On November 24, 2023, Kris Wu's appeal was rejected by the court. The court upheld the original judgement, finding the evidence reliable and sufficient, and the application of law and conviction correct.