A biopic of the Dutch extreme athlete and wellness guru Wim Hof has been put on hold after allegations of domestic violence against the man who calls himself “the Iceman” emerged in Dutch media over the weekend.
A report published in de Volkskrant newspaper on Saturday claimed the 65-year-old had subjected his former partner, their son and her two children from a previous marriage to physical and verbal abuse over a period of 13 years.
On Tuesday Hof announced he had filed a complaint for alleged defamation, slander and said “one of the sources had previously filed a false report against Wim Hof”. He also intended to take legal action against de Volkskrant, which he said had provided a “platform for false accusations without conducting its own investigation”.
His oldest son, Enahm Hof, said in a statement to the Guardian that his father “did not recognise” many of the accusations made in the article. The allegations that his father had abused his ex-wife were “entirely false”, he said, and “the allegations of domestic violence, as portrayed, are not only grossly exaggerated but also deeply hurtful”.
Enahm added: “We remain committed to our mission of helping people and also want to clear Wim’s name from these unfounded accusations.”
The Volkskrant report said Wim Hof’s former partner had contacted the newspaper after being informed by a British film producer of the plans for a film about his life.
Starring Shakespeare in Love actor Joseph Fiennes and scripted by Philomena writer Jeff Pope, the film is previewed on the website of film sales company Cornerstone Film as the story of “a widower who worked as a postman and struggled to support his four children”, before turning “to the cold and breathing to find peace and strength”.
On Tuesday a spokesperson for London-based production company Genesius Pictures said: “Genesius Pictures can confirm that due to the severity of the allegations, this production, which was in development only and had not begun filming, is on hold.”
Initially known for record-breaking feats such as swimming under ice, scaling Mount Everest in only a pair of shorts and hiking boots and running a marathon in the Arctic barefoot, Hof has become an influential wellness guru through a series of motivational books.
His “Wim Hof method”, which promises to boost the immune system and reduce chronic inflammation through regular cold immersion, has been feted by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom and Jim Carrey.
The most recent filings for his company, Hof Holding BV, show revenues of more than €6m £5m in 2022.
The de Volkskrant report is based on an interview with Hof’s ex-partner, named only as Caroline, testimony from their son, and responses from Hof and his four oldest children, including Enahm, who told the paper they had never seen him commit acts of violence.
It includes claims that Hof was sentenced in 2012 by the Amsterdam magistrates’ court to community service and a fine for assaulting Caroline’s oldest son, then 18. The Amsterdam court confirmed that Hof went before the magistrate’s court in 2012 and was given a sentence of 40 hours of community service and fine of €350.
Enahm Hof said the domestic violence conviction related to “a single incident involving Caroline’s son, adult at the time, for which Wim Hof expressed regret and offered an apology. Wim clarifies that no physical violence occurred, but a struggle, which nonetheless should not have happened.”
He added: “The article addresses a difficult and dark period in Wim Hof’s life, a time that was undeniably unhealthy. However, Wim does not recognise many of the accusations made in the article, as they do not accurately reflect the situation.”
The article also reported that in 2015 the Dutch child care and protection board had made a report that led to Hof losing access to the couple’s son.
A spokesperson for the board confirmed on Tuesday that its conclusion had been to advise that he should no longer have contact with the boy.
The claims of domestic abuse follow allegations that the Wim Hof Method does not adequately warn of the risk of drowning from practising breathing exercises, if done in water. He and his business partners insist the method is safe as long as practised properly, and that they consistently draw attention to potential risks across their platforms and products.
Earlier this year in July, Hof was found to have not been responsible for the death of 17-year-old girl Madelyn Rose Metzger by a civil court in Los Angeles. She was found dead in a swimming pool after conducting breathing methods allegedly inspired by Hof and losing consciousness, according to her father.