'Bloodsport' actor Jean-Claude Van Damme breaks silence through his rep following claims that he knowingly received trafficked women as 'gift' during his stay at Cannes.
- April 9, 2025
AceShowbiz - Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme is under scrutiny as the Romanian government's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) examines serious allegations involving sexual relations with human trafficking victims. A representative for the 64-year-old actor has declared these claims as "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," said his agent Patrick Goavec in a statement to USA TODAY.
According to DIICOT, a complaint against Van Damme was submitted on April 2, and the case has been forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further investigation. "The contents of any reports pending before the criminal investigation bodies is not made public," the agency stated.
According to multiple outlets, Van Damme is accused of having sexual relations with five Romanian women who were victims of trafficking, during his stay in Cannes. The accusation came from an alleged victim who reportedly stepped forward with testimony.
Van Damme reportedly accepted women as "gift" at Cannes despite fully aware that they're victims of human trafficking. The ringleader of this heinous scheme is identified as Morel Bolia, the head of EuroDemos and the Kasta Morrely modeling agency.
Bolia is already under investigation for forming a criminal group and exploiting minors through psychological pressure. He was arrested in 2022 as the main suspect in this extensive human trafficking case.
The allegations surfaced amid DIICOT's ongoing investigation into a human trafficking network, which includes the trafficking of minors. DIICOT will continue to gather evidence before Romanian prosecutors determine whether to initiate criminal proceedings against Van Damme.
Jean-Claude Van Damme, born in Belgium, has built a storied career as a martial artist-turned-actor. He first captured attention with his breakout role in 1988's "Bloodsport" and solidified his action hero status through films like "Kickboxer," "Double Impact," "Street Fighter," and "Double Team." He also featured in "The Expendables 2" and the Amazon Prime series "Jean-Claude Van Johnson."
The world watches closely as Romanian authorities proceed with their investigation.
