A photo allegedly showing former EXO member Kris Wu dramatically gaining weight while in prison is drawing attention online. However, there are also claims that it is actually an edited version of an older photo.
Recently, a photo presumed to be of Kris Wu appeared on Chinese social media platform Weibo, showing a shaved head and a red checkered shirt.
In the photo, his face looks noticeably rounder with a double chin, quite different from his previously sharp facial features. Some netizens responded with comments like, “Is the prison food really that good?” and “How well are they feeding him to gain so much weight?”
However, doubts arose over whether the photo was actually taken during his imprisonment. Critics pointed out that it’s suspicious for an inmate to be wearing civilian clothes, prompting netizens to find what they believe to be the original photo.
The original photo is said to have been taken during Kris Wu’s 2015 interview with Chinese media Sohu. The red checkered shirt matches the one in the circulated image, supporting claims that the widely shared photo is a digitally altered composite based on an old photo with a modified body shape.
Some netizens explained that the image originated from a previously popular online edited video. Therefore, claims that Kris Wu’s weight has rapidly increased during incarceration appear to be unverified.
Additionally, rumors have circulated online that Kris Wu has had food disputes with other inmates and was bullied for frequently singing. However, these reports have not been confirmed as true.
Kris Wu, born in 1990 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, is a Canadian singer and actor. He debuted in 2012 as a member of EXO and the EXO-M unit under the name Kris, later leaving the group to pursue a music and acting career primarily in China.
He was arrested in China in 2021 on sexual assault charges and was sentenced in 2022 to 13 years in prison for sexual assault and related offenses. It is reported that he will be deported from China upon completion of his sentence.
Recently, rumors have also circulated online that Kris Wu died early this year in a detention facility in Beijing, China. However, these death reports have not been officially confirmed.