Steven Seagal’s passion for martial arts reportedly grew when he went to Japan to teach English. After earning black belts in judo, kendo, karate, and aikido; he later on put his talents to use as a consultant for Hollywood films, choreographing combat scenes and acting as a bodyguard and trainer for prominent Tinseltown figures like mega-agent Michael Ovitz. With his cinematic debut in the action film Above the Law, he went on to do blockbusters like Hard to Kill and Under Siege.
However, Seagal’s career as a big-screen action star had started to decline by the late 1990s.Seagal has always been consumed by controversies, including claims of several instances of s*xual assault, a dubious cryptocurrency scam, and his close friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During this time, rumors of his strange behavior spread widely, and numerous celebrities were eager to share unpleasant incidents that portrayed Seagal as kind of an annoying, arrogant jerk.
Sylvester Stallone claims Seagal Segal fled when challenged by Jean-Claude Van Damme
Steven Seagal’s spat with Jean-Claude Van Damme began in the 1990s when Seagal was asked about Van Damme on The Arsenio Hall Show and claimed about his position as a martial arts champion. Then, in a clip from his reality series Steven Seagal Lawman, Seagal mocks the idea of going up against Van Damme. He said,
“It’d be like me squashing an ant,” he said. “If he sees me he runs.”
But Sylvester Stallone told a totally different tale when he hosted both guys at a party in 1997. Stallone stated that Van Damme had grown tired of Seagal’s insults and put forward a challenge to duel in the actor’s backyard. Talking about the incident with FHM Magazine, Stallone said,
“Seagal made his excuses and left. But Van Damme, who was berserk, tracked him down at a nightclub and offered him out again. Again, Seagal pulled a Houdini. Van Damme was just too strong. Seagal wanted none of it.”
Seagal’s decision to run away from the fight sure left an embarrassing image of him in the eyes of the media. But this is not the only time the world saw a cringe moment of Seagal.
Steven Seagal also managed to “annoy” Liam Neeson
Due to the popularity of the Taken series and his character’s special set of skills, actor Liam Neeson is no amateur when it comes to action films. During a 2017 visit on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he recounted an uncomfortable incident about fellow action star Steven Seagal. When asked by host Jimmy Kimmel if he had ever collaborated with the Under Siege actor, Neeson replied that Seagal had “particularly annoyed” him after a press junket reporter had questioned him.
“Hey, what do you think of Steven Seagal saying you don’t know how to punch?”
Neeson, who was a boxer in his youth, replied,
“I know how to punch.”
There have been numerous reports by different celebrities sharing their unpleasant experiences with Steven Seagal. Other stars like Pamela Anderson, Julianna Margulies, and Portia de Rossi have even talked about Seagal’s inappropriate behavior. It does make sense why all the celebrities have agreed that they surely can’t stand Steven Seagal anymore.
Source: Nicki Swift
