Jeremy Renner denies ex-wife’s claim that he bit their four-year-old daughter

Sonni Pacheco is suing Avengers star for sole custody of daughter Ava

Adam White
Wednesday 30 October 2019 09:58 GMT
Disney+ release teaser trailer

Jeremy Renner has denied claims made by his ex-wife Sonni Pacheco that he bit their four-year-old daughter, Ava.

In court documents publicly filed in the Superior Court of California last week and obtained by the New York Post, Pacheco alleges that she spotted a mark on Ava's shoulder in April 2017.

After asking how she obtained the mark, Pacheco claims Ava replied: “Daddy bit me. It’s OK Mommy, it was an accident. I told him never to do it again.”

In emails included in the filing, Renner denies that he caused the bruise and says that Ava’s seat belt had “pinched” her. Pacheco then alleges that she challenged Renner’s claims, in response to which the Avengers actor says the bite was made as part of a game between the pair.

“Ha. No. We do a nibble game called Ava burrito,” Renner is alleged to have replied. “Haha. But not a bite. Tell her she’s spicy. And the game ensues. Haha. Nibble game are fake nibbles.”

A representative for Renner called Pacheco’s claims “categorically not true and another straight-out character assassination made by Ms Pacheco and her attorney.”

They added that after the time in which the incident allegedly took place, Pacheco “never sought a restraining order or never withheld Mr Renner’s 50 per cent custody time.”

Renner and Pacheco have been involved in a custody battle over Ava, now aged six. In court documents, Pacheco alleges that Renner, who she married and split from in 2014, talked about killing her and himself. She also accused him of emotional abuse, and of abusing drugs. Renner has denied the allegations.

Pacheco is asking for sole custody of the pair’s daughter.

It was claimed last week (27 October) that the allegations made against Renner had led Disney to “consider replacing” the actor in the role of Marvel superhero Hawkeye. Renner is currently signed up to headline a forthcoming Disney+ TV series revolving around the character.

The Independent has reached out to Renner’s legal representative for further comment.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in