VAN DAMME HITS BACK

Jean-Claude Van Damme has described allegations against him as "grotesque" and "unfounded".

The 64-year-old Kickboxer actor has been accused of knowingly engaging in sexual relations with women who had been trafficked by a criminal group led by Morel Bolea.

In a new statement to PEOPLE magazine translated from French, his agent Patrick Goavec said: "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. Mr Van Damme does not wish to comment or fuel this rumour, which is as absurd as it is unfounded."

Van Damme is accused of having received five Romanian women as a "gift" in Cannes, France, with prior knowledge they had come from a trafficking group.

Attorney Adrian Cuculis, who represents one of the victims, told the outlet the quintet "were in a state of vulnerability, with the suspicion that they were exploited within the meaning of Article 182 of the Criminal Code."

He added: “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."

A woman who witnessed the alleged incident is said to have spoken with prosecutors, prompting the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) to open a criminal investigation.

DIICOT stated at the time that these women 'were subsequently sexually exploited through psychological coercion'.

They said they had identified at least five victims, according to reports.

The incident is part of a larger investigation into human trafficking that the Prosecutor's Office in Romania launched in 2020.

According to Antena 3, because the alleged incident happened in Cannes, the High Court of Cassation in France must authorise criminal proceedings for the case to move forward.

The suspects will then be summoned to Romania to give statements.

Van Damme became a household name after his breakout performance in the 1988 film Bloodsport and a series of roles in action films including Double Impact and Expendables 2.