Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, known as a 'legendary action star,' recently responded to allegations of prostitution against him, saying it is "absurd."
According to a report by the Daily Mail on 10th (local time), 64-year-old Jean-Claude Van Damme from Belgium was named in a criminal complaint filed by the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). The complaint alleges that an individual known as a 'guru' provided Van Damme with five women for prostitution.
Earlier, Antena 3, a CNN affiliate, reported that Van Damme was able to make contact with women as a 'gift' during his visit to Cannes in southern France for film distribution.
It has been alleged that these women are victims of a prostitution ring operated by Morel Bolea, a Romanian businessman and owner of a modeling agency. Bolea was previously arrested in 2020 on charges of trafficking minors. Investigators uncovered that the organization he founded recruited minors through NGOs and modeling agencies.
Lawyer Adrian Cuculis noted that the five Romanian women were "in a vulnerable state and may have been exploited." Attorney Cuculis stated that this 'heinous' incident is part of a wide-ranging investigation into trafficking and the trafficking of minors that the Romanian prosecutor's office began in 2020. It is reported that one of the victims mentioned Van Damme's involvement in the case.
Van Damme's agent, Patrick Goaveck, rebutted these allegations in a statement sent to People, saying they are "absurd and do not exist." He added, "Van Damme does not want to mention or fuel this rumor. This rumor is absurd and unfounded."
Van Damme gained fame by appearing in several action films, including the 1988 movie 'Bloodsport,' 'Kickboxer,' and 'The Expendables 2.'
Recently, he voiced characters in 'Minions 2' and an upcoming project, 'Gardner,' set to be released in 2025.
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