Belgian action star Jean-Claude Van Damme has sparked outrage among his Brisbane fanbase after a last-minute cancellation of his scheduled appearance at the Supanova Comic Con & Gaming convention.
Midnight Cancellation Stuns Fans
The 65-year-old martial artist and actor was due to attend the popular convention on Saturday, but organisers dropped a bombshell announcement at midnight the night before, revealing Van Damme would be 'delayed' due to 'travel complications'.
In a statement posted to Instagram, a spokesperson explained the issues meant the 'one-day-only' appearance could not proceed as planned. They confirmed the team was working to reschedule his appearance for Sunday, though this remained uncertain.
Organisers Scramble as Backlash Grows
The event organisers moved quickly to manage the fallout, announcing automatic refunds for all pre-purchased autograph and photo opportunity tokens through Ticketbooth. They also offered to swap Saturday day passes for Sunday entry for those who had bought tickets specifically to see the Muscles from Brussels.
Fans, however, were not placated by these measures. The comments section on the official post became a hub of frustration and scepticism.
One disgruntled fan sarcastically wrote, 'Oh no what a SURPRISE,' while another simply described the news as 'Devastating'. Others questioned the official explanation, with one person stating, 'Travel complications. Bulls***. There's nothing complicated about travelling if you've already booked and organised your transport.'
Some chose to inject humour into their disappointment, with comments like 'VAN DAMMIT!' and 'That's a Damme shame' lightening the mood slightly amidst the widespread annoyance.
A History of Headlines
This incident comes on the heels of another Van Damme story that captured public attention earlier this year. In a surprising turn of events, the actor ended his three-decade-long feud with fellow action star Steven Seagal.
The two martial arts icons, once mortal enemies, shocked fans in April when they were photographed together at Seagal's birthday dinner. The historic rivalry had been notoriously bitter, with Seagal previously boasting he would 'squash' Van Damme 'like an ant' in a fight.
Van Damme marked the truce by posting a video on his Instagram, putting his arm around Seagal and calling him his 'good friend'.
For now, Brisbane fans are left waiting to see if their own moment with the action hero will be rescheduled, their anticipation mixed with palpable frustration.
