EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Claude Van Damme, 63, reveals how he REALLY feels about his 'feud' with Steven Seagal, 71, - and explains why he's braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone
Jean-Claude Van Damme was famously locked in a feud with Steven Seagal in the 90s and has addressed his feelings about him in an interview with MailOnline.
Both actors were considered two of the best action heroes of the golden age of martial arts in Hollywood movies at the time, which led to a level of competitiveness and public sparring.
And when Jean-Claude heard Seagal, 71, belittling him in interviews, he is said to have challenged him to 'meet him outside' at a party at Sylvester Stallone's Miami home in 1991 - but Steven refused to take him up on his offer.
Jean-Claude spoke about the situation with MailOnline from his hotel room in Hong Kong and said: 'If Steven doesn't like me, that's OK. If someone like Beethovan or Einstein didn’t like me, maybe that would concern me.
'But Seagal, I don’t mind him not liking me. I really don’t mind. I don’t think there’s any sort of problem.'
![EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Claude Van Damme, 63, told MailOnline how he REALLY feels about his 'feud' with actor Steven Seagal, 71, - and explained why he's braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/13/76704677-12644281-image-m-13_1697630958008.jpg)
EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Claude Van Damme, 63, told MailOnline how he REALLY feels about his 'feud' with actor Steven Seagal, 71, - and explained why he's braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone
![Jean-Claude said: 'If Steven doesn't like me, that's OK. If someone like Beethovan or Einstein didn’t like me, maybe that would concern me' - Steven famously belittled Jean-Claude in interviews in the 90s but turned down his offer of a fight (pictured in 2018)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/13/29974454-12644281-Attack_Calling_the_actor_incredible_overweight_Charlize_explaine-a-8_1697630826282.jpg)
Jean-Claude said: 'If Steven doesn't like me, that's OK. If someone like Beethovan or Einstein didn’t like me, maybe that would concern me' - Steven famously belittled Jean-Claude in interviews in the 90s but turned down his offer of a fight (pictured in 2018)
![Hard men: The actor said he is still getting to film around two movies a year and said he's much braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger, (second from right) and Sly Stallone, (second from left), when it comes to taking on work because he claims they are afraid to travel](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/13/76704613-12644281-image-a-15_1697631162852.jpg)
Hard men: The actor said he is still getting to film around two movies a year and said he's much braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger, (second from right) and Sly Stallone, (second from left), when it comes to taking on work because he claims they are afraid to travel
Jean-Claude, dubbed the Muscles from Brussels, said he is still getting to film around two movies a year and said he's much braver than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sly Stallone when it comes to taking on work.
He said: 'It’s impossible for a guy like me to not work. I speak French, a bit of English. I am doing two French movies next.
'Arnie and Sly, they are afraid to go international but I am a globetrotter. I've been to Azerbaijan, Khazakstan... all over. They can be seen as dangerous countries I guess, but I have been welcomed there.'
While Jean-Claude is still in demand in the movie world, he has decided to embark on a new venture and is now part-owner of a new Irish whiskey called Old Oak.
A reformed party boy, Jean-Claude said memories of his grandfather inspired his love of the bourbon drink.
He said: 'I lived in a country house in Brussels, my grandpa would take me on his thigh and dip his cigar in whiskey before smoking it while I sat there.
'This was the 70s of course. Now people say it’s not good to smoke around children but I liked the woody smell and I've never forgotten it.'
'I’m not an expert on alcohol and obviously it has brought about some ups and downs for me over the years. But whiskey is the liquid of life but I am relaxed about how my new venture goes. If people love it, they love it. We’ll see.
'It’s like when you film a movie. Sometimes you film things with a big budget and they flop. Other times, something costs 2-3million and it makes 70million.'
![Jean Claude Van DRAM! While Jean-Claude is still in demand in the movie world, he has decided to embark on a new venture and is now part-owner of a new Irish whiskey called Old Oak](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/12/76703099-12644281-image-a-1_1697628105564.jpg)
Jean Claude Van DRAM! While Jean-Claude is still in demand in the movie world, he has decided to embark on a new venture and is now part-owner of a new Irish whiskey called Old Oak
![Nostalgia: Jean-Claude said memories of his grandfather inspired his love of the bourbon drink. He said: 'I lived in a country house in Brussels, my grandpa would take me on his thigh and dip his cigar in whiskey before smoking it while I sat there'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/12/76703097-12644281-image-a-4_1697628120057.jpg)
Nostalgia: Jean-Claude said memories of his grandfather inspired his love of the bourbon drink. He said: 'I lived in a country house in Brussels, my grandpa would take me on his thigh and dip his cigar in whiskey before smoking it while I sat there'
![She comes everywhere with me: The Kickboxer star introduced his beloved chihuahua Lola during the interview, (stock image)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/13/76704639-12644281-image-m-16_1697631217768.jpg)
She comes everywhere with me: The Kickboxer star introduced his beloved chihuahua Lola during the interview, (stock image)
Jean-Claude said he's never been too drunk on whiskey, saying: 'I don't drink it every night, it's more like 1-2 shots a week a week.
'You can still write a script, talk to friends. It relaxes you. And this is a boutique type of whiskey which is being made in limited numbers.
'Vodka however, that was a different story. I drank a ot of that with Ukrainians and Russians, before all the problems.
'Caviar was all new to me then, so I ate lots of that, I drank lots. I've got out of my body on Guinness. Whoa!'
Jean-Claude famously impressed fans with his dance moves in movie Kickboxer, which was released in 1989 and he said he can STILL do those wild moves more than 30 years on.
'Yes I can still do those flexible moves after three or four glasses of wine.' he smiled. 'But the trouble is, I get cramp in the morning now.
'And when I drink, I'm laughing all the time. I'm a happy camper when I drink, not a fighter. And I do everything in moderation. I am wild 70% of the time these days.'
With that, he brings his beloved chihuahua over to say hello and gives her a big kiss.
![Wow! Jean-Claude famously impressed fans with his dance moves in movie Kickboxer, which was released in 1989 and he said he can STILL do those wild moves more than 30 years on](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/12/76703143-12644281-image-a-5_1697628222072.jpg)
Wow! Jean-Claude famously impressed fans with his dance moves in movie Kickboxer, which was released in 1989 and he said he can STILL do those wild moves more than 30 years on
![ThrowbacK: 'Yes I can still do those flexible moves after three or four glasses of wine.' he smiled. 'But the trouble is, I get cramp in the morning now'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/18/12/76703141-12644281-image-a-6_1697628224143.jpg)
ThrowbacK: 'Yes I can still do those flexible moves after three or four glasses of wine.' he smiled. 'But the trouble is, I get cramp in the morning now'
'This is Lola,' he said.
'She comes everywhere with me. I love animals. I love primates, too. I once met Jane Goodall.'
Jean-Claude is celebrating his birthday on Wednesday and said: 'I might spend it doing the splits between two whiskey barrels.
'I'll have to get some elastic jeans so I can do it or wear shorts. When you get to a certain age, you lose flexibility.
'First to go is your legs, then your buttocks, then your abs, so it's important to do stretch exercises, train your middle area and have blood tests to determine what type of diet you should adopt.
Jean-Claude's Old Oak has a signature 3-year-old blended whiskey finished from a selected mixture of bourbon and new oak barrels and a 5-year-old blended whiskey finished in a rum reserve barrel.
Old Oak Whiskey's award winning three and five year old whiskeys are priced at £34.95 and £39.95 and are available to buy online www.oldoakirishwhiskey.com.