Kris Wu, born Wu Yi Fan on November 6, 1990, in Guangzhou, China, rose to international fame as a member of the massively popular South Korean-Chinese boy band Exo before embarking on a controversial solo career in music and film that ultimately ended in a criminal conviction. Originally named Li Jiaheng at birth, he moved to Canada at the age of ten and later returned to Asia to pursue entertainment, training under SM Entertainment. He debuted in 2012 as a member of Exo and its Chinese sub-unit Exo-M, where his striking visuals and deep voice quickly made him one of the group's most recognizable figures. Wu left Exo in 2014 following a highly publicized legal dispute with SM Entertainment, after which he returned to mainland China to establish himself as a solo artist and actor.

As a solo performer, Wu released a series of hit singles and albums, including "Like a Dog" and "Time Boils the Rain," which showcased his blend of hip-hop and Mandarin pop. He also became a prominent figure in Chinese cinema, starring in major box office successes such as Mr. Six and Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back, the latter directed by Stephen Chow. His Hollywood debut came in 2017 when he appeared alongside Vin Diesel in the action film XXX: Return of Xander Cage, playing a skilled sniper. Wu's career reached its peak in the late 2010s, with endorsement deals from luxury brands like Burberry and Louis Vuitton, and he was frequently listed among China's most influential celebrities. He also served as a mentor on the survival show The Rap of China, further cementing his status as a pop culture tastemaker.

However, Wu's career and reputation were shattered in 2021 when multiple rape allegations emerged on Chinese social media, leading to a widespread public outcry and an investigation by Chinese authorities. In November 2022, he was convicted by a Chinese court on charges of raping three intoxicated women and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was also fined CN¥600 million (approximately US$84 million) for tax evasion. Wu appealed the conviction, but the verdict was upheld in November 2023. As a Chinese-born Canadian national, he is expected to be deported from China after completing his prison sentence. His downfall from the heights of global stardom to a convicted felon remains one of the most dramatic and cautionary tales in modern entertainment history.