Apr 14
In the Wake of JoJo Siwa Comments, 'Threatening and Aggressive' Mickey Rourke Tossed from 'Celebrity Big Brother'
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Mickey Rourke will be packing his bags and vacating the premises after the "Celebrity Big Brother" cast member's offensive remarks to (and about) JoJo Siwa and a clash with British actor and sports commentator Chris Hughes.
A spokesperson for the show cited Rourke's "threatening and aggressive" language toward Hughes, People Magazine reported.
"Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior," the BBC reported.
As previously reported, the trouble started early. Variety described how the "72-year-old Rourke asked if 21-year-old Siwa was romantically interested in boys or girls."
When Siwa said she likes women and added that her partner is non-binary, Rourke told her, "If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore."
Siwa promptly informed the "Rumble Fish" actor, "I can guarantee I'll still be gay and I'll still be in a very happy relationship."
Rourke followed up by telling another houseguest he was "going to vote the lesbian out real quick," and Siwa set him straight, telling him, "That's homophobic, if that was your reasoning."
Rourke, unrepentant, talked about needing a smoke break, using a British word for cigarette that is also a common slur for queer people. Then, to Siwa, he added: "I'm not talking to you."
"Rourke's confrontation with Siwa came just days after the actor was called out for behaving inappropriately toward host AJ Odudu while entering the house," People relayed, adding that Rourke "'grabbed' and 'ogled'" the presenter of the ITV show.
Rourke's comments to Siwa got him a warning that he needed to treat his fellow cast members with more respect or pack his bags.
It came down to the latter after Rourke and Hughes' spat. Reports on the flap did not offer specifics, other than to say that it did not become physical.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
