Mickey Rourke has received a formal warning on ITV’s “Celebrity Big Brother” after JoJo Siwa accused him of making homophobic comments about her.
The two are currently starring on the U.K. version of the series and an exchange between them on Wednesday night’s episode went awry, leading to the warning for Rourke. According to the BBC, 72-year-old Rourke asked if 21-year-old Siwa was romantically interested in boys or girls, to which she said: “Girls. My partner is nonbinary.” He then replied, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.” Siwa told Rourke: “I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.”
The actor and former boxer then made a comment that he was “going to vote the lesbian out real quick,” which Siwa overheard. “That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning,” she responded. He also reportedly said “I need a f–,” referring to the house’s smoking section, but then gestured to Siwa and said: “I’m not talking to you.”
After these remarks, Rourke was pulled into a confessional where Big Brother told him that his language was “offensive and unacceptable,” adding: “Further language or behavior of this nature could lead to you being removed from the Big Brother house.”
In response, Rourke said: “I apologize. I don’t have dishonorable intentions. I’m just talking smack, you know. I wasn’t taking it all so serious. I didn’t mean any bad intentions and if I did, sorry.” Rourke later also apologized to Siwa, telling her that he “didn’t say it out of meanness.”
Representatives for Rourke did not have further comment when reached by Variety.
A spokesperson for ITV said: “All housemates receive respect and inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the ‘Big Brother’ senior team to prepare them for living in the house and to set out ‘Big Brother’s’ expectation for appropriate behavior and language. Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and instances of inappropriate behavior are dealt with appropriately and timely.”
The full episode of “Celebrity Big Brother” will air Wednesday night on ITV at 9 p.m. U.K.
From Variety US