Jeremy Renner has had a wild few years. Between surviving a 14,000-pound snowplow crushing his ribs and making a miraculous comeback in Mayor of Kingstown, the man hasn’t had much downtime. But lately, the spotlight has shifted from his 38 broken bones to his love life. Specifically, everyone is asking about the status of a certain Jeremy Renner girlfriend after things got messy in late 2025.
If you’ve been following the tabloids, you know the name Yi Zhou. She isn't just a "girlfriend" in the casual sense—she's a filmmaker and former Chanel model who went public with their relationship in October 2025. But this isn't exactly a fairytale. What started as a story of "healing love" quickly devolved into a legal battle featuring cease-and-desist letters and allegations that sound more like a thriller script than a Reno romance.
Who is Yi Zhou?
Yi Zhou is a 37-year-old Chinese-born multimedia artist. She’s lived a high-profile life long before Renner, with work appearing in Vogue and Elle. Most people first heard of her in the context of Renner when they started collaborating on professional projects. They were working on a documentary titled Chronicles of Disney and an AI-animated film called Stardust Future: Stars and Scars.
Honestly, the pairing made sense on paper. Renner is a musician and artist at heart, and Zhou is a creative powerhouse. In October 2025, she told the Daily Mail, "We have been in a relationship," even praising his humility and growth after his accident. She talked about their shared creative interests as the foundation of their bond.
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Then, the wheels came off.
The Jeremy Renner Girlfriend Drama: From "True Love" to ICE Threats
In November 2025, the narrative flipped. Zhou took to Instagram and later spoke with TMZ and People, claiming the relationship was far more volatile than it appeared. She alleged that Renner sent her "unsolicited" intimate photos and, more shockingly, threatened to call ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on her during a dispute.
Renner’s legal team, led by the high-powered Marty Singer, didn't stay quiet. They fired back immediately, calling the allegations "false, outrageous, and highly defamatory." According to Renner’s camp, the two had nothing more than a "brief consensual encounter" in July 2025 after an interview. They claim Zhou was the one pursuing him and that she manufactured the drama to drum up publicity for her AI film project.
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It’s a classic "he said, she said" but with much higher stakes. Singer even alleged that Zhou used Renner’s voice in her film without his permission.
Why the Timeline Matters
If you're trying to track the Jeremy Renner girlfriend timeline, it looks roughly like this:
- July 2025: They meet at a hotel in Reno for a documentary interview. Renner’s team says this was the "brief encounter."
- August 2025: They are seen together in Reno. Zhou posts a photo collage of them in a convertible.
- October 2025: Zhou confirms the relationship to the press, calling it a "new love."
- November 2025: The relationship implodes. Zhou claims harassment; Renner’s team claims she’s a "rejected" romantic interest seeking revenge.
Past Relationships and the "Titanium" Recovery
Renner’s history with women has always been a bit complicated. We can't talk about his current dating life without mentioning Sonni Pacheco. They were married for a blip—roughly ten months in 2014—and share a daughter, Ava. That divorce was brutal. Pacheco made serious allegations regarding substance abuse and safety, which Renner has consistently denied.
Since the accident on New Year's Day 2023, Renner has been vocal about how his perspective has shifted. He’s spent a lot of time focusing on his "RennerVation Foundation" and his daughter. In interviews throughout late 2025, he’s emphasized that "the only thing that continues is the continuum of love."
But finding a stable Jeremy Renner girlfriend seems to be a harder mountain to climb than his physical recovery. Before Zhou, there were rumors about him dating Amber Monson, a hairdresser, in 2023. That supposedly ended after a tense Christmas gathering.
What’s the Status Now?
As of early 2026, Jeremy Renner appears to be single, or at least keeping his head down. The legal fallout with Yi Zhou has likely made him extremely cautious about who he lets into his inner circle. When he’s not filming, he’s usually at his home in Reno or working on his music.
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The lesson here? Fame and recovery are a tough mix. Renner survived a literal death experience, and he seems more interested in his "next breath" than a permanent red-carpet partner.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Verify the Source: When you see headlines about a new Jeremy Renner girlfriend, check if it's coming from a reputable trade like Variety or just a random Instagram comment. The Zhou situation showed how quickly a social media post can turn into a legal war.
- Focus on the Work: Renner is currently leaning into his role in Mayor of Kingstown and his new book My Next Breath. If you want the most "real" version of his life, his own memoir is usually a better bet than tabloid speculation.
- Respect the Privacy: Given the ICE allegations and the cease-and-desist orders, it’s clear Renner is tightening his circle. Following his official foundation updates is the best way to support him without fueling the rumor mill.
The drama with Yi Zhou might be the most public relationship struggle he's had since his divorce, but if Renner has proven anything, it's that he knows how to rebuild after a crash.