Washington, DC [US], July 14: Actor Jeremy Renner has spoken candidly about the challenges of his divorce and custody battle with ex-wife Sonni Pacheco, addressing serious past allegations and how he coped with being in the public eye, New York Post reported.
Renner, best known for his role as Hawkeye in the Avengers franchise, reflected on the 2019 divorce proceedings, during which Pacheco alleged he had threatened to kill her and himself.
“Whatever stress I’ve had in life, I’ve tried to find a way of laughing through it… And that’s where sometimes cynicism comes out — you think, ‘I’m just going to laugh at this stuff,’” said Renner.
On the Allegations
Renner firmly denied the accusations, saying:
“Being accused of things you’ve not done… That doesn’t feel good to anybody. It certainly doesn’t feel good when you’re a celebrity and it’s known to everybody.”
He described the media coverage as clickbait that “dehumanizes people” and said he has learned to block out public reactions:
“It doesn’t matter to me what people say… They’re saying it for their own reasons, not for the right reasons or the truth.”
Past Legal Battle
Renner and Pacheco were married for just ten months before she filed for divorce in December 2014. The couple later engaged in a high-profile custody battle over their daughter Ava, now 12.
During the legal proceedings, Pacheco accused Renner of:
- Threatening to kill her
- Firing a gun into the ceiling
- Drug use and leaving cocaine in a place accessible to their daughter
Renner denied all the allegations at the time. Despite the tumultuous battle, joint custody was eventually agreed upon.
Current Relationship
Renner now says he shares an amicable relationship with Pacheco:
“Her mom and I get along very well, and we’re in each other’s lives. It’s lovely.”
He emphasized that their personal relationship is “no one’s business”, but shared that Pacheco now has a new child:
“She’s got a new baby and she sends me beautiful pictures.”
Pacheco welcomed daughter Wylder with hockey player Nate Thompson in March 2023.