Van Damme says he didn't have a heart attack

What heart attack? Jean-Claude Van Damme says he's feeling fine, thank you very much -- but that might not be all there is to the story.

"Hours ago, I read a rumor online about me suffering heart attack!!," the actor's Facebook page reads. "Please, do not believe all what you read from rumors on any unofficial JCVD sites. Jean-Claude Van Damme is 100% healthy, training well for taking the fight and sending his fans & friends much love."

TwitchFilm.net reported Tuesday that Van Damme had suffered a minor heart attack the previous week in New Orleans, on location for his film, "Weapon." A Ministry request for comment Tuesday from a Van Damme rep wasn't answered, but MTV News was told in an e-mail, "He is okay."

Now, TwitchFilm said its original information came off a Van Damme fan discussion board, where an administrator identified a minor heart attack as the "complication" in New Orleans that forced the crew to film scenes without the star -- and a look at the ongoing exchange at VanDammeFan.net is pretty interesting.

Sheldon Lettich, who wrote Van Damme's "Bloodsport," "Lionheart," "Legionnaire" and "Double Impact," participates on that fan board, according to his own website. In response to forum members who questioned the veracity of the site administrator's report, Lettich posted that nobody who'd been on location had mentioned it "because we were asked -- by JC and his agent -- to keep it quiet until they could release a statement. Guess the cat somehow got out of the bag before they could do that."
Lettich also posted, "JC felt some tightness in his chest just hours after he'd arrived in New Orleans, and checked himself into a local hospital for tests." He noted that Van Damme's wife, Gladys, had flown in and stayed by her husband's side for the duration.

Discussion of the story and how it had blown up was still going strong Wednesday in that thread, which you can read for yourself here. Warning: It's a lengthy chat.

An e-mail inquiry to Lettich's rep for comment was not immediately returned. We'll update if we hear back.