[imagesource:sseagalofficial/x]

Steven Seagal used to be the go-to guy for kopskiet en donner movies in the nineties with his unique brand of slapping justice, but these days the Under Siege star calls himself “one million percent” Russian, and regularly features in pro-Russian propaganda films.

The latest offering from Putin’s teddybear is In The Name of Justice – which features the former star visiting war-torn Ukraine and espousing how the Ukrainians brought the conflict on themselves.

Based on images from the surreal doccie/film, Seagal appears to have packed on a few kilos since his bromance with the despotic Russian president pulled him from Hollywood, and stills from the film show him waddling around blown-up buildings while telling the Ukrainians that Putin is actually their friend for blowing their country to pieces.

Someone who once worked with Seagal said he’d gained “at least 50 pounds,” and would have gone “apes**t” over his appearance in the doc.

“Seagal, as a rule, controlled the narrative hard when filming as he insisted on certain camera angles and nothing that accentuates his weight gain,” the source said.

The Hard to Kill star made a name for himself in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an actor who brought his background in martial arts to the silver screen. Years after making his splash in Hollywood, Seagal sought to obtain Russian citizenship, which Russian President Vladimir Putin granted in 2016 and led to him off-loading his vast portfolio of American real estate.

Seagal has previously been happy to star in blatant Russian propaganda films about the war in Ukraine, even referring to Ukrainians as “Nazis” in a 2020 clip.

Seagal, seen in the above image asking for a sandwich “this big”, has referred to Vladimir Putin as both a “brother” and one of “the greatest living world leaders” – and has been scarce on social media in recent years. But when he’s appeared, he has almost always worn smock-like mandarin coats that hide his frame.

Seagal was named a Special Representative for Russia-US Cultural Links, Cultural and Historical Heritage in 2016, a voluntary position for which Seagal was tasked with “strengthening direct contacts, mutual understanding and trust” between people in Russia and the U.S.

At the same time, he was also deemed a national security threat in Ukraine, and banned from entering the country.

I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been appointed as a special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in charge of Russian and American Humanitarian ties.
I hope we can strive for peace, harmony and positive results in the world.
I take this honour very seriously pic.twitter.com/LTuUxsk1aZ

— Steven Seagal (@sseagalofficial) August 5, 2018

What a goofy guy. We still think Jason Statham could have taken him down, even when he was in his hand-waving ponytailed prime.

[source:nypost]