Mickey Rourke was removed from the Celebrity Big Brother house following a series of incidents that were deemed “threatening and aggressive” towards fellow contestant Chris Hughes, as well as inappropriate sexual comments made to Ella Rae Wise. The 72-year-old actor, known for his role in "The Wrestler", had faced scrutiny from the public since his entrance into the show, particularly after making homophobic remarks directed at Jojo Siwa.
Rourke had seemingly gained favour among some of his housemates, managing to evade eviction during the latest episode on 11 April, where fellow contestant Michael Fabricant departed instead. During his brief stay, Rourke opened up about experiencing childhood abuse, receiving sympathy from his fellow contestants, including Siwa.
However, tensions escalated on the night of 14 April during a pirate-themed challenge. Rourke made an offensive and sexually explicit comment towards Wise, which visibly upset her. She later expressed her discomfort, stating, “You can just be someone, but be mindful of what it can trigger in other people, because it’s made me feel very uneasy. I don’t like it, all the sexual innuendo.”
The situation deteriorated further when, amidst playful interactions, Rourke confronted Hughes after Hughes jokingly stared at him, saying, “You looking at me?” The situation escalated as Rourke threatened Hughes by saying, “Don’t fing eyeball me. You c.” His aggressive language prompted attempts at defusing the situation from fellow contestants including Beard, Siwa, and Hughes.
Following the confrontation, Big Brother summoned Rourke to the diary room, where he was informed that his behaviour was unacceptable and that the language used could cause offence to both housemates and viewers. Recalling the incident, Rourke acknowledged his wrongdoing and expressed regret, saying, “Yes sir. I did wrong. I apologise. I’m sorry... I lost my temper, and I’ve been trying to work on it my whole life.” He further stated, “I’m ashamed of myself for losing it for a few seconds there. Nobody got touched or hurt. Maybe some feelings got hurt.”
Ultimately, Rourke was informed that his behaviour warranted removal from the house. In a candid reflection on his actions, he accepted responsibility for his “short fuse” and expressed a wish to leave the show, admitting, “I went over the line, you know, I did wrong. I guess, like they say, I’m a work in progress.” He concluded his diary room session, indicating that he wanted to pack his bags and depart from the show.
Source: Noah Wire Services