Jean-Claude Van Damme opens up about strained relationships with his children

Cult for his martial arts but also his enigmatic lines. Jean-Claude Van Damme was the portrait of the week of “Sept à quatre” in which Audrey Crespo-Mara tried to “follow without getting lost the twists and turns of his wandering thoughts, the words that collide in French and English, hoping to unravel the mystery of this character”. In this interview, the Belgian actor made a first observation about his life, addressing his career but also his family and love life.

“I was very sensitive and I wasn't treated very well. I lost my very first love, without any sexual relations. Just one kiss but lots of butterflies. I was in a sense betrayed and it really destroyed me. Like every boy who is very sensitive, it fucked me up for the rest of my life.”he says before continuing: “After this girl, I always rejected love. Five divorces. So I believe in love but I reject it.”

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A tumultuous love life

The 64-year-old man has indeed had tumultuous relationships. He was married for the first time to Maria Rodriguez between 1980 and 1984 then to Cynthia Derderian from 1985 to 1986. Between 1986 and 1993, he married Gladys Portugues with whom he had two children: Kristopher and Bianca. The year following his divorce, he also had Darcy LaPier as his wife for three years, mother of his third child, Nicholas. The actor and the mother of his first two children, Gladys Portugues, finally gave themselves a second chance by remarrying in 1999, only to separate a second time in 2015.

“I have small regrets. I lost the relationship with my children. I left them very young and I spent 50 years in a hotel so I don't think that my children, for the moment, love me very much. My wife is there, she keeps them at home. When I succeeded I gave everything but even when I am dead they will not understand”he explains to Audrey Crespo-Mara, admitting to not having been sufficiently present for his offspring.

“I don’t know if it will be repaired, it’s too far away. They are 38, 34 and 28 years old. They do the best they can but they are still under my roof and I maintain”he declares, showing a certain lucidity. And to continue: “They don't work too much but because they all want to be actors. I told them we were going to succeed and I was wrong. I wonder if they're mad at me for that. I don't dare say it on TV but I'm going to say it. Many friends tell me that my children admire me but that there is a little jealousy [envers moi] and that pisses me off.”