Detained as a Suspect in Rape Case, Kris Wu Faces 10 Years in Prison - Official Account and Songs Deleted from Weibo

Kapanlagi.com - Since July 2021, the name Kris Wu has been in the spotlight in China and even fans worldwide. This is because actress Du Meizhu accused the former EXO member of cheating and even forcing sexual relationships on girls.

In connection with this controversy, the Chaoyang District Public Security Bureau in Beijing revealed on Saturday (July 31) that Kris Wu has been arrested for further investigation.

"In response to accusations that Kris Wu has repeatedly exploited young women for sex, the police have arrested Wu, who holds Canadian citizenship, for further investigation into the rape allegations," said the Chaoyang District Public Security Bureau in Beijing, as cited by Allkpop.

Although he has been detained, the police have not disclosed the specific charges against Kris. However, some Chinese media outlets have reported their opinions and predictions about the case.

1. Threatened with 10-Year Prison Sentence

Weibo

One of China's government media outlets has indicated that there is a possibility Kris Wu will be sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of rape. The government-run news outlet, Global Times, added that Kris Wu can still be sentenced under Chinese law regardless of his Canadian citizenship.

"Although Kris Wu has Canadian citizenship, he can be punished under Chinese law because he is alleged to have committed crimes in China," Global Times wrote on Monday (2/8).

Furthermore, there is a high possibility that Kris Wu will be deported from China after serving his prison sentence if he is found guilty of the crime. What's worse, China has a maximum punishment of death for anyone accused of sexual assault or rape.

People's Daily stated that Kris Wu will not receive any special exemption from punishment due to his popularity as a celebrity. If the rape case against him is true, it will be a lesson that the law applies equally to everyone.

"There will be no special pardons, no matter how famous he is. Someone who violates the law will be punished according to the law," wrote the official newspaper of the Communist Party.

"This case is no longer just a rumor in the entertainment industry but has become a real case. The more popular someone is, the more they must comply with the law. This will provide a clear lesson that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law," they continued.

2. Netizens' Response to Kris Wu's Sentence

The news of Kris Wu's arrest has caught the attention of netizens worldwide, including in South Korea. Particularly, they are highlighting if the death penalty for cases of child rape, as per Chinese law, will be truly implemented in Kris Wu's case.

Many agree that Kris Wu should receive the harshest punishment possible for his actions, if proven guilty. Though it may sound cruel, there are quite a few netizens who actually support Kris Wu's execution. According to them, individuals who commit crimes like rape will not change even if they receive the severest punishment.

"So, he will be executed??" said one Korean netizen on an online forum.

"Rapists being executed??? That's what I like about China," expressed another netizen.

3. Still Many Supporters

On the other hand, there are still some loyal fans of Kris Wu who continue to support their idol. They even say they want to "save" Kris Wu from prison and still believe that their idol is innocent.

They engage in various unreasonable activities. Some fans even create chat groups to discuss ways to "visit Kris Wu in prison" and say "see you in Beijing tomorrow."

Several famous celebrities, including screenwriter Liuliu and debater Ma Weiwei, have also defended Kris Wu. When Kris Wu was reported to have taken advantage of his influence to "sleep" with his fans, screenwriter Liuliu said, "Wu Yifan looks very handsome, it should be an honor to be able to sleep with him."

On the other hand, Ma said that being able to "sleep" with Kris Wu is a "blessing." However, both of them have apologized for their statements.

Ma's Weibo account has been suspended after Kris Wu's detention. She apologized on Sunday (1/8) from another account for her previous statements, saying, "I used to be a divorced woman with nothing, it was the women who helped me," and posted a tearful apology video.

4. Official Account Deleted Weibo

Yup, Chinese social media company Weibo didn't stay silent regarding the case involving the 30-year-old artist. Kris Wu's official account and his label have been deleted and can no longer be accessed on Weibo.

Last Sunday (8/1), Weibo announced that they have closed 108 accounts and 789 groups that violated their community guidelines. This decisive action is not biased, considering the severity of the case involving Kris Wu.

According to the revealed list, accounts that defended Kris Wu and his fan community have also been deleted or suspended. The same fate has also been experienced by celebrity accounts that supported Kris or mentioned anything related to him.

In related news, most of Kris Wu's songs have also been deleted from music streaming sites. Only 2 or 3 songs are still accessible.

5. Kris Wu Wax Figure Wearing Prisoner Clothes

Since being detained by Beijing police on suspicion of rape, the related topic about Kris Wu has sparked widespread discussion on the Chinese internet. The hashtag "Kris Wu wax figure" has gained over 310 million readings on Sina Weibo at the time of the press release.

A photo of Kris Wu's wax figure wearing a prison uniform has been widely circulated on the internet. However, the photo has been confirmed fake by staff members of Madame Tussauds Shanghai, who confirmed it to Global Times on Monday (8/1).

As known, Kris Wu's wax figure was introduced by Madame Tussauds Shanghai in 2015.

Before disappearing from circulation, the photo of Kris Wu's wax figure wearing a prison uniform was used as a joke by some netizens as a warning to other celebrities. They also commented that Kris Wu should change his hairstyle to match his attire.

What do KLovers think?

(kpl/rsp)