[TW] Recently, former EXO Kris Wu was officially arrested by Chinese police on charges of sexual assault. According to Chinese insiders, if the idol will be found guilty of assaulting minors, there is a severe penalty that could be imposed on him. Keep reading to know more.

On the 16th, Chinese-Canadian Kris Wu has been formally arrested on charges of sexually assaulting minors, under the prosecution in Beijing's Chaoyang district.

In line with this, Chinese insiders revealed how severe the penalty Kris may face if he will be proven guilty of all of his charges. The insiders also revealed Kris Wu's mother's reaction to her son's huge controversy in China.

Moreover, entertainment officials also examined if how will the controversy tremendously affect Chinese K-pop idols, or idols promoting in China in general.

Kris Wu May Face Heavy Sentence If Proven that He Sexually Assaulted Minors — Death Penalty is Possible

The K-pop idol turned Chinese star Kris Wu, is an SM Entertainment artist until 2022, after he lost the dispute against the agency in 2016.

After leaving EXO in 2014, he has been active independently in various fields, including being an actor, model, producer as well as singer in China.

However, he was detained and has been arrested following charges of rape — wherein he was accused of sexually abusing a 19-year-old student.

In China, heavy sentences are expected if Kris is found to be guilty of crimes. According to an entertainment industry insider who consulted lawyers in China, a person with sexual assault charges may be imprisoned for three years up to 10 years.

However, it is a different case when the perpetrator sexually assaulted a minor, as there are precedents that were sentenced to death after being proven guilty of raping a minor.

According to a Beijing source who is well-informed in the Chinese entertainment industry on the 16th, few lawyers are willing to take charge of Kris Wu's case. When it comes to money, it is natural to go out to defend, but it is said that they are concerned about the fall in their image.

As the situation got serious, Kris's mother is said to be reportedly crying and actively looking for a competent lawyer but has yet to be confirmed.

Also Read: [TW] Kris Wu's Sexual Assault Scandal: Timeline of Events That Led to His Arrest

How Kris Wu's Sexual Assault Case Will Affect Idol and Fandom Culture in China

Meanwhile, Kris Wu who was loved by more than 50 million followers on Weibo before the scandal closed his account — which is a huge indicator of the collapse in his popularity.

However, his career is not only the one that is on the brink of collapsing but as well as other Chinese celebrities – the start of a big change in idol fandom culture and SNS platforms.

According to CNN, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) recently closed more than 1,300 celebrity fan groups and 4,000 online accounts and deleted more than 150,000 "harmful remarks" left by fans.

CAC strongly criticized the fan club culture, saying the sanctions are aimed at responding to "unhealthy fan culture."

The criticism came after some of Kris Wu fans revealed their "excessive fan spirit," including a fund-raising campaign to help them take legal action and release their detention.

Read More: [TW] Kris Wu May Face Charges in the U.S. after LA-Based Woman Comes Forward as Sexual Assault Victim

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Written by Eunice Dawson