After Michael Douglas revealed (erroneously) that Val Kilmer has cancer, the latter opened up about his health in a rare public statement.
What did Kilmer have to say on Facebook?
Douglas implied Kilmer was battling throat cancer, as he Michael had, fueling suspicion that Val is hospitalized and near death.
According to Val, Michael is well-meaning.
But he is also incorrect in his comment.
“I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed,” Kilmer wrote on Facebook, refuting Douglas’ claims that he suffers from the disease.
“The last time I spoke to him was almost two years ago, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat.”
“[That] prevented me from continuing a tour of my play CITIZEN TWAIN. I ended up using a team at UCLA and have no cancer whatsoever.”
“I still have a swollen tongue and am rehabbing steadily.”
Douglas surprisingly shared his belief that Kilmer was suffering from cancer during a Q&A with Jonathan Ross in London on Sunday.
“Val was a wonderful guy who is dealing with exactly what I had [tongue cancer],” he revealed. “My prayers are with him.”
“That’s why you haven’t heard too much from Val lately.”
According to Douglas, things didn’t “look too good.”
Kilmer continued his clarification on social media:
“Some fans have mistakenly thought my silence about my personal issues meant that somehow I wasn’t being responsible to my health.”
“Because of my reliance on prayer and Love,” Kilmer, a practicing Christian Scientist, continued, people get the wrong idea about him.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he insists.
“Altho I am very grateful for all the support from around the world, when people found out I had a physical challenge,” he adds.
“I hope this puts to rest any further concerns about my health by publications that have no respect for the truth.”
He adds that there are no hard feelings, though.
“Whatever led Michael Douglas to speculate about my health, he’s a loving and devoted friend to a privileged group of talented people.”
“I’m sure he meant no harm,” Kilmer said.
“Being healthy and having the respect of my peers and love from my family, friends, peers and fans is a DAILY source of inspiration.”
“I am so grateful, you have no idea. I work VERY hard at my craft, and being appreciated since I was a little boy for being able to give this gift.”
“It has literally made my life. Thank you all.”
“And I’ve only just begun, now that I’m finally telling stories that I’ve written and produced the way my vision intends them. God bless you all.”
As recently as last winter, Kilmer had been wearing tracheotomy tube, sparking speculation that he had been struggling with his health.
The scarves he was wearing seemed to be more than a fashion statement, but he seems to be putting the rumors to rest … for now.