Kris Wu, once one of the most sought-after and influential celebrities in China, saw his career come crashing down in 2021 due to serious personal scandals. The former idol, who had gained massive fame as a member of EXO, was convicted of multiple charges, including the sexual assault of several young women and involvement in group sexual activities. As a result, his promising career was completely destroyed, and he was sentenced to prison. Since his downfall, much attention has been paid to his life behind bars, especially after rumors emerged towards the end of 2025 that he had died in prison.

The reality of Kris Wu’s life in prison is a far cry from his glamorous past. Once a beloved superstar, he now faces the harsh consequences of his actions while serving his sentence. Reports from Chinese media reveal that despite the rumors of his ill health or death, Wu is, in fact, alive and well. His health is reportedly stable, with no major concerns regarding his physical well-being. Contrary to the speculations online, there is no truth to the claim that he collapsed or attempted to starve himself in protest after being given additional sentences for tax evasion. According to sources close to him, Kris Wu maintains a healthy lifestyle within the confines of his prison.

Living conditions in prison have been challenging for Wu, but he has adapted to the restricted and strict environment. He resides in a small, cramped room, with basic amenities like a shared bathroom and a small bed. The food is modest, and prisoners are required to take cold showers year-round. Even simple personal tasks, such as trimming his nails or shaving, require permission and must be scheduled in advance. Despite these hardships, Kris Wu seems to have accepted his fate and is making the best of his circumstances.

His prison labor assignment involves working on a production line, where he helps manufacture data cables and high-quality headphones. This routine work is a significant departure from the life of luxury he once knew in the entertainment industry. However, Wu has reportedly become well-adjusted to this work and has even risen to a leadership role. Since 2023, he has been designated as the “team leader” for a small group of inmates. His exemplary behavior has earned him some privileges, such as being excused from night shifts and receiving slightly better meals, including steamed buns with pickled mustard greens and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Outside of his work duties, Kris Wu has also been given the opportunity to engage in some form of leisure. In his spare time, he writes songs and performs for fellow prisoners, offering entertainment to his peers. His music seems to provide some solace in the otherwise grim prison environment, offering a sense of connection and normalcy in a place where freedom is a distant memory. His transformation from a celebrity idol to a prison inmate highlights the dramatic shift in his life, both in terms of his physical surroundings and emotional state.

When Wu was initially incarcerated, he reportedly struggled with his emotions, often breaking down in tears and pleading for his family to secure his release. He was also known to lash out, shouting that he was innocent and begging for medical attention. His emotional instability at the time caused delays in the investigation, with authorities taking extra precautions to monitor him closely. For some time, there were concerns that Kris Wu might not be able to handle the psychological strain of imprisonment. Consequently, he was placed under round-the-clock supervision by prison guards to ensure his mental health remained stable.

However, over time, Kris Wu appears to have come to terms with his situation. He has slowly shed his past identity as a high-profile celebrity, accepting that his life is now bound by the rules and limitations of prison. His once inflated sense of entitlement has been replaced by a more grounded and humble perspective. He no longer demands special treatment or privileges, instead focusing on adjusting to the new reality that he faces daily.

While Kris Wu’s fall from grace has been a public spectacle, his story is a cautionary tale of how fame and power can be fleeting. His dramatic shift from a beloved star to a convicted criminal serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of his actions. As he serves his sentence, his life is a constant reflection of the price one must pay for breaking the law and violating the trust of others. Despite everything, it seems that Kris Wu is finding a way to cope with the harsh realities of prison life and, perhaps, is attempting to find some form of redemption in the process.