Latest news with #DIICOT
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jean-Claude Van Damme hits back at 'grotesque' sex trafficking allegations
Jean-Claude Van Damme called the sex-trafficking allegations against him "absurd" and "grotesque." Van Damme has been accused of knowingly engaging in a sexual encounter with a group of sex-trafficked women, according to multiple reports. "We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr. Jean-Claude Van Damme. The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent," Patrick Goavec, the actor's agent, told Fox News Digital. "Mr. Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumor, which is as absurd as it is unfounded," the statement concluded. The statement has been translated from French. A criminal complaint against Van Damme detailing the allegations was filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), Romanian outlet Antena 3 reported. "Several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women – photo models in Romania – for him to have sexual relations with. The person who received those benefits knew their condition," attorney Adrian Cuculis told the outlet. The alleged encounter occurred in Cannes, where Van Damme received a "gift" of five Romanian women and reportedly knew they were victims of a sex-trafficking ring. Cuculis explained that the women "were in a state of vulnerability" with "suspicion that they were exploited," according to Atena 3. The next step in the case would be for the High Court of Cassation in France to sign off on criminal proceedings before each suspect would be required to give statements in Romania. Van Damme gained fame in the '80s with his breakout role in "Bloodsport." The Belgian actor quickly became known for his action films, including "Universal Soldier," "Double Impact," "Street Fighter" and "Kickboxer." The 64-year-old movie star has two projects currently in pre-production after starring in "The Gardener" in 2025.
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Jean-Claude Van Damme denies ‘grotesque' claim he knowingly had sex with five trafficked women
Jean-Claude Van Damme has denied accusations he knowingly engaged in sexual relations with women trafficked by a criminal group. The action film star, whose credits include Street Fighter and Bloodsport, has spoken out after reportedly finding himself the subject of criminal charges in Romania over the claims. Last week, it was alleged that Van Damme received five Romanian women as a 'gift' from a group of traffickers while in Cannes, France – but the actor's agent has hit back at the 'unfounded' claims. 'We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr Jean-Claude Van Damme,' Patrick Goavec said in a statement. He told People: 'The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent. Mr Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumour, which is as absurd as it is unfounded.' The news originally surfaced after a report by the local CNN affiliate Antena 3, who alleged that a criminal complaint had been filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT). According to the outlet, DIICOT launched their investigation after a woman allegedly witnessed the incident at an event organised by Van Damme and shared what she claimed she had seen with prosecutors. Antena 3 quotesattorney Adrian Cuculis, who is representing one of the alleged victims, as saying that 'several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women – photo models in Romania – for him to have sexual relations with'. Cuculis added that 'the person who received those benefits knew their condition,' and that the women 'were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code'. Antena 3 was also told the alleged incident is part of a larger investigation by the Romanian Prosecutor's Office into human trafficking, and the trafficking of minors, that has been carried out since 2020. Former bodybuilder Van Damme made his big break into action films in the 1980s, and led cult martial arts film Bloodsport in 1988. His other credits include Kickboxer, Double Impact, Universal Soldier, Timecop Street Fighter, and Sudden Death. More recently, he has played a villainous role in The Expendables 2 and provided voice work for the 2022 family film Minions: The Rise of Gru. In 2021, a director for the sitcom Friends said Van Damme was 'unprepared and arrogant' during his guest appearance on the show. He starred as himself in the second season episode 'The One After the Super Bowl,' in which he was romantically pursued by both Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). While he hasn't responded to director Michael Lembeck's comments, Van Damme told the New York Post in 2023 that he was 'ashamed' of his acting in the episode. 'My acting is so bad.... I'm ashamed of myself,' said Van Damme. 'So then I was on the set, and those girls, they go and they kiss me and they kiss me on the lips. I didn't know what to do, how to do … It was strange. They were very nice.' He added he knew little about the hit sitcom, saying: 'I didn't know much about the show. So when I go to the show, I see those two beautiful girls and they say this is the hottest show right now in the world. So I was very glad.' Van Damme has been married five times – twice to female bodybuilder Gladys Portugues in 1987 and, after divorcing in 1992, again in 1999. They are still together now. The actor has three children.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jean-Claude Van Damme Sex Trafficking Allegations Are 'Absurd' and 'Unfounded,' Says Actor's Agent
Jean-Claude Van Damme's agent is speaking out about criminal charges filed against the actor. "We have become aware of articles alleging an alleged affair in Cannes involving Mr. Jean-Claude Van Damme. The reported facts are both grotesque and non-existent," the actor's agent, Patrick Goavec, told PEOPLE in a statement translated from French on Wednesday, April 9. "Mr. Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumor, which is as absurd as it is unfounded," the statement added. A criminal complaint was filed with the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) against the Streetfighter star, 64, alleging that he knowingly engaged in sexual relations with women trafficked by a criminal group led by Morel Bolea, according to CNN affiliate Antena 3. The incident allegedly took place during an event organized by Van Damme in Cannes, where the actor is accused of having received five Romanian women as a "gift" with prior knowledge that they came from a group of traffickers, according to the criminal complaint obtained by the outlet. Attorney Adrian Cuculis, who represents one of the victims, told the outlet that the women "were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. One woman who claimed see witnessed the incident shared what she allegedly saw with prosecutors, according to Antenna 3 CNN. This prompted the DIICOT to open a criminal investigation into the incident. 'Several Romanians who are currently being investigated for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women — photo models in Romania — for him to have sexual relations with. The person who received those benefits knew their condition,' attorney Adrian Cuculis told the outlet in a translated post. Cuculis told Antena 3 that the incident is part of a larger investigation into human trafficking and the trafficking of minors that began in 2020 by the Prosecutor's Office in Romania. The next step in the case would be the High Court of Cassation in France authorizing criminal proceedings. Then, suspects identified in the case will be summoned to Romania to give statements, Antena 3 Damme, who was born in Belgium, made his breakout with 1988's Bloodsport and went on to star in several action films including Kickboxer, Double Impact and The Expendables 2. He most recently appeared as a voice actor in 2022's Minions: Rise of Gru and 2025's The Gardener. Read the original article on People
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of sex with trafficked women in Cannes
Jean-Claude Van Damme allegedly had sex with five women trafficked from Romania at a television series launch party in Cannes, according to legal documents obtained by The Telegraph. The Belgian martial artist and Hollywood actor is facing a potential criminal investigation from Romanian authorities after a complaint was filed to police on April 2. Excerpts of a deposition contained in the complaint claim the women were 'given' to Van Damme, 64, at the event in south-east France in 2015. The trafficking of the girls is said to have been organised by Morel Bolea, a Romanian suspected sex trafficker and former head of a modelling agency. One woman who attended the event said in a written testimony: 'When we got there, we realised we weren't participating in a film festival event, but rather at the launch of a TV series starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which was held in a hotel event room.' She said one of the event's organisers 'took five of his girls from the Fashion TV team and sent them to Van Damme'. Van Damme's representatives have been contacted for comment. It is not known if he knew the girls had been trafficked. Women's whereabouts unknown The criminal complaint was submitted to the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in Bucharest, the same organisation prosecuting the misogynist and alleged rapist Andrew Tate. The current whereabouts of the women and their identities are not known. Adrian Cuculis, the lawyer who filed the complaint, represents a separate woman allegedly groomed and trafficked by Mr Bolea when she was 15 years old. Mr Cuculis told The Telegraph: 'They were basically offered to Van Damme … this is the allegation that Jean-Claude Van Damme used the services of one or more exploited girls. He added: 'They were there for [sic] making sexual intercourse with this guy … if Jean-Claude Van Damme hooked up with them in the club and they went and engaged in six-person intercourse, it's perfectly fine. 'But if somebody comes to you keeping her hand in his hand and says 'OK off you go with him into the room' this means something else. 'It's a deposition stating out very clearly what happened there, and who offered the girls and what are the terms of them, the conditions.' 'Police investigation launched' Mr Cuculis said police had already begun investigating Van-Damme as part of a wider inquiry into Mr Bolea's trafficking network. He said: 'The [police] investigation has already been launched since Friday. 'I received a note from the prosecutor's office saying that they merged this file into the file that was opened in Morel Bolea's case and they are conducting an investigation regarding our accusations.' A spokesman for DIICOT confirmed it had received the complaint on April 2 but made no further comment. The complaint alleges that Mr Van Damme made 'use of services of an exploited person, an offence stipulated and punishable under Art. 216 of the criminal code, in conjunction with Art. 182 letters a), b), c) of the criminal code.' Mr Bolea was arrested in 2022 as the main suspect in a case surrounding the exploitation of minors, Romanian news media reported. He has not commented on the allegations. According to the Romanian prosecutor's office, from 2000 to 2016, he involved girls, including minors, in 'sexual exploitation through psychological pressure' through his organisation.
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jean-Claude Van Damme investigation: Allegations are 'grotesque' and 'unfounded,' rep says
Jean-Claude Van Damme investigation: Allegations are 'grotesque' and 'unfounded,' rep says Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme is hitting back amid news that he is being investigated for alleged sexual relations with human trafficking victims. A representative for the "Street Fighter" and "Bloodsport" actor, 64, said in an April 3 statement to USA TODAY, written in French, the reported claims "are both grotesque and non-existent." "Mr. Van Damme does not wish to comment on or fuel this rumor, which is as absurd as it is unfounded," his agent, Patrick Goavec, said. On Tuesday, the Romanian government's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, a law enforcement branch, confirmed to USA TODAY that a complaint against Van Damme was submitted April 2. According to DIICOT's statement, translated from Romanian, the complaint "was transmitted to the Territorial Service for competent resolution." The agency also noted that the contents of any reports "pending before the criminal investigation bodies" is not made public. Jean-Claude Van Damme had sexual relations with trafficked Romanian women, lawyer alleges On April 1, news of the complaint against Van Damme emerged via reports from various Romanian news outlets. CNN affiliate Antena 3, TV news station Antena 1 and newspaper HotNews reported Romanian lawyer Adrian Cuculis said in a statement last week that Van Damme is accused of knowingly having sexual relations in Cannes with five Romanian women who had been trafficked. An alleged victim came forward to provide testimony, Cuculis reportedly said. The claim reportedly emerged amid DIICOT's investigation into a network engaged in human trafficking, including minors. According to Antena 3, DIICOT will continue to gather evidence before Romanian prosecutors determine whether to initiate criminal proceedings. Van Damme, a Belgium-born martial artist-turned actor, has three children from five marriages. "Bloodsport" was his breakout role in 1988, and he went on achieve action icon status through films like 1989's "Kickboxer," 1991's "Double Impact," 1994's "Street Fighter" and 1997's "Double Team". He also appeared in "The Expendables 2" (2012) and the one-season Amazon Prime Video series "Jean-Claude Van Johnson," which was produced by Ridley Scott.
