Former EXO member and disgraced Chinese-Canadian star Kris Wu (Wu Yi Fan) has unexpectedly become the center of social media discussion again after a fan’s public display of support at American rapper Travis Scott’s concert in China went viral.
During Travis Scott’s “Circus Maximus Tour” stop in China, fans were shocked when cameras panned to a person in the audience wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Free Kris Wu.”
As the massive LED screens projected the image across the arena, the phrase caught immediate attention. Concertgoers cheered, while others recorded and uploaded the moment to X (formerly Twitter), Weibo, and TikTok, causing the clip to spread rapidly.
Some netizens believed it was a harmless gesture from an old fan nostalgic for Wu’s collaboration days, while others called it deeply inappropriate, given the gravity of his crimes.
The incident sparked a wave of polarized reactions online.
“This is disgusting. Supporting a convicted rapist in public is beyond tone-deaf.”
“They should remove anyone promoting this message.”
Yet, surprisingly, a segment of users — many of whom identified as former EXO or Kris Wu fans — expressed nostalgia and sympathy:
“We still miss the old Kris Wu, the artist we once admired.”
“He made mistakes, but he was a great performer.”
The “Free Kris Wu” hashtag trended briefly on several Chinese platforms before being deleted by moderators , indicating censorship likely due to the sensitive nature of Wu’s case.
Kris Wu first rose to international fame after debuting with EXO in 2012, quickly becoming one of the group’s most recognizable faces. Following his departure in 2014, he launched a successful solo career in China — starring in major films, performing at global music events, and collaborating with top Western artists, including Travis Scott on their 2017 hit “Deserve,” which charted on Billboard’s US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list.
However, in 2021, Wu’s career collapsed after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. Following a high-profile investigation and trial, he was convicted of rape and organizing group sexual activities , receiving a 13-year prison sentence. He was also fined 600 million yuan (approximately $84 million USD) for tax evasion, further solidifying his fall from grace.
Sources: Koreaboo
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