Mickey Rourke Leaves Celebrity Big Brother UK Amid Controversy Over Inappropriate Comments
You ever wonder why some reality TV moments spiral out of control? Well, welcome to the latest episode of “Celebrity Big Brother UK,” where Mickey Rourke just gave us another reason to scratch our heads. The 72-year-old actor has decided to exit the show after producers warned him about his “unacceptable behavior” and choice of language. So, spoiler alert: Rourke won’t be making it to the finale after all.
Reports from Variety and the BBC revealed that Rourke’s exit came after a heated exchange with fellow housemate Chris Hughes. According to a spokesperson for the show, while there was no physical altercation, Rourke’s language was deemed “threatening and aggressive.” Just earlier this week, he received a warning for making inappropriate comments directed towards JoJo Siwa, a 21-year-old housemate who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community. During a casual chat, Rourke asked Siwa if she liked boys or girls, and when she informed him that her partner is non-binary, he made a rather cringe-worthy remark suggesting that if he stayed longer than four days, she wouldn’t be gay anymore. Siwa quickly shut that down, affirming her identity and relationship.
The drama didn’t stop there. Rourke followed up with a comment about voting Siwa out, which Siwa aptly called out as homophobic. His attempts at humor didn’t land well, especially when he later gestured toward Siwa while using slang for a cigarette, which only added fuel to the fire of his already problematic behavior. Producers had made it very clear that any further inappropriate comments would lead to his removal from the house; Rourke, however, seemed to brush it off as just “talking smack.”
The show’s producers emphasized that all housemates undergo training on respect and proper conduct. Clearly, this training didn’t stick for Rourke. In fact, just days before his exit, he faced backlash for behaving inappropriately towards the show’s host, AJ Odudu, which included an uncomfortable moment where he “grabbed” and “ogled” her. Co-host Will Best even had to remind him to behave.
Before his departure, there was a significant chance he would become the first contestant evicted this season, thanks to Siwa’s newfound power to nominate housemates for public vote. Her choice was almost too easy after Rourke’s comments. So, yeah, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a celebrity go off-script in the Big Brother house, but it’s definitely one of the more cringe-inducing moments.
So, if you thought reality TV would tone it down just a notch, guess again. Rourke’s exit serves as a reminder that sometimes, the drama is all too real, and not in a good way.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Variety, BBC, PEOPLE
Attribution: STRF/STAR MAX/IPx (Creative Commons)
