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Mickey Rourke Faces Backlash on Celebrity Big Brother for Homophobic Comments
Actor Mickey Rourke is under scrutiny just days into his participation in the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother. His comments aimed at fellow housemate JoJo Siwa, who is openly queer, have drawn significant criticism and resulted in a formal warning from the show’s producers. During a conversation, Rourke jokingly suggested that if he remained in the house for more than four days, Siwa “won’t be gay anymore.” He also made an unsettling statement about wanting to “tie” her up.
Further compounding the issue, while speaking with housemate Chris Hughes from Love Island in Siwa’s presence, Rourke declared he would “vote the lesbian out real quick.” When confronted by Siwa regarding the homophobic nature of his comment, Rourke responded with a derogatory anti-gay slur, attempting to downplay it by claiming he was referring to a cigarette in British slang.
This behavior prompted immediate intervention from Big Brother executives, who issued Rourke a warning, stating:
“Big Brother thinks your language was offensive and unacceptable… As a result, Big Brother is giving you a formal warning. Further language or behaviour of this nature could lead to you being removed from the Big Brother house.”
In his defense, Rourke told the producers he harbored no “dishonorable intentions” and described his remarks as “talking smack.” He later addressed Siwa directly to apologize, saying, “I want to apologize. I’ve got a habit of having a short fuse. And I don’t mean nothing by it. I do mean it [sorry]. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t say it to you.”
JoJo Siwa, a singer, dancer, and actress best known for her role on Dance Moms and her partnership with Nickelodeon, publicly came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in January 2021. Notably, she made headlines on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars as the first celebrity to be paired with a same-sex dance partner. While she accepted Rourke’s apology, she firmly stated that the specific slur he used is unacceptable.
Audiences Slam Mickey Rourke’s ‘Big Brother’ Behavior
Viewers have taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their outrage over Rourke’s comments. Many have described him as a “violent misogynist,” with others condemning his disturbing threats directed at Siwa. The backlash underscores broader societal concerns regarding the impact of language and behavior within reality television contexts.
Mickey Rourke’s acting career began in the early 1980s with notable roles in films such as Diner and Rumble Fish, gaining traction with projects like 9 1/2 Weeks and Angel Heart. After taking a hiatus to explore professional boxing in the 1990s, he returned to acting, earning acclaim for his performance in 2008’s The Wrestler, which garnered him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. He later built a more diverse filmography with appearances in Iron Man 2 and The Expendables and participated in reality television shows like The Masked Singer.
Currently, Rourke is working on various lower-budget projects, including the film 3 Days Rising alongside Ice-T and Peter Greene. Additional upcoming films in post-production include The Roaring Game, A Walking Miracle, Hollywood Heist, and Bring the Law.
Source
movieweb.com