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Jean-Claude Van Damme Responds to Sex Trafficking Allegations
Updated: April 9, 2025, 10:42 p.m. ET — Patrick Goavec, agent for Jean-Claude Van Damme, has issued a statement refuting allegations that the actor engaged with five Romanian sex trafficking victims. This response follows the filing of a criminal complaint against Van Damme.
Goavec addressed the claims in a statement to People on Wednesday, April 9, stating, “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.” Translated from French, the statement continued, “Mr. Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumor, which is as absurd as it is unfounded.”
Original Story: Allegations Surface Against Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme is facing reported criminal accusations in Romania concerning alleged interactions with sex trafficking victims.
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On Tuesday, April 1, news emerged of a criminal complaint submitted to the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) against the actor, as reported by CNN affiliate Antena 3.
The complaint reportedly implicates Van Damme, 64, in knowingly having sexual encounters with women allegedly trafficked by Morel Bolea’s criminal organization.
According to reports, Van Damme allegedly received five Romanian women as a “gift” during a visit to Cannes, France, with the understanding that they were part of a trafficking operation.
The Double Impact star’s name surfaced after one of the alleged victims reportedly came forward.
Us Weekly has contacted Van Damme’s representative for comment on the unfolding situation.
Adrian Cuculis, an attorney representing one of the alleged victims, stated that all the women involved were “in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code.”
DIICOT initiated a criminal investigation into the supposed incident after a female witness informed prosecutors of witnessing the alleged exchange between Van Damme and the Romanian women at an event he hosted in Cannes, according to Antena 3.
Cuculis told the outlet, “Several Romanians who are currently under investigation for forming a criminal group and pimping, allegedly offered Jean-Claude Van Damme five Romanian women — photo models in Romania — for him to engage in sexual relations with,” and claimed, “The person who received those benefits knew their condition.”
The attorney further asserted, based on witness accounts, “It is very clear that Jean-Claude Van Damme knew that these people were being exploited.”
The news outlet clarified that as the alleged event occurred in Cannes, authorization for initiating criminal proceedings rests with the Prosecutor General of the prosecutor’s office attached to the High Court of Cassation.
According to Antena 3, the file will remain with DIICOT until the Prosecutor General’s authorization, and individuals involved will be summoned to Romania to provide statements before any further action.
This case is part of a broader investigation initiated by the Romanian prosecutor’s office in 2020, focusing on human trafficking and the trafficking of minors, as per Antena 3 reports.
Van Damme is widely recognized for his martial arts expertise, stunt work, and acting career, which commenced in the 1980s. His recent acting role was in The Gardener.
Resources for Support
If you possess information regarding a trafficking situation, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
If you or someone you are aware of has experienced sexual assault, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).