Mickey Rourke leaves “Celebrity Big Brother” U.K. after threatening behavior toward housemate

Mickey Rourke is leaving Celebrity Big Brother U.K.

Following The Wrestler star’s continued use of offensive language and behavior toward a castmate that was considered threatening, Rourke has agreed to leave the reality series following Sunday’s episode, per Variety.

While gearing up for a pirate-themed challenge, Rourke seemed to provoke a heated confrontation with Love Island star Chris Hughes. Challenge captain JoJo Siwa — against whom Rourke used a homophobic slur this week, resulting in a formal reprimand — asked the castmates how they’re doing. When several castmates agreed “there’s a rat amongst us,” Hughes looked at Rourke, who leapt out of line, squared up with him, and said “Don’t eyeball me. Don’t f—ing eyeball me c—.” Rourke had to be physically separated from Hughes.

Though no physical altercation ensued, Rourke’s threatening behavior and foul language, combined with his recent, disturbing remarks made against Siwa, resulted in the long-running reality competition series asking the actor to depart.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to ITV and reps for Rourke.

Earlier this week, Rourke made several offensive comments toward or about Siwa, a Dance Moms alum and pop singer, who is currently dating the Australian influencer Kath Ebbs.

“If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore,” Rourke told Siwa upon meeting her and discovering that she identifies as LGBTQ+.

“I can guarantee I’ll still be gay, and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship,” Siwa responded.

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Rourke told Hughes he planned to “vote the lesbian out real quick.” Siwa overheard Rourke’s comment and replied, “That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning.”

Later, Rourke shouted out, “I need a f-g,” then gestured toward Siwa and added, “I’m not talking about you.” Hughes called Rourke out for the remark, but the actor claimed he only meant a cigarette. The show later formally reprimanded him.

The New York-born boxer-turned-actor rose to fame in the 1980s with a string of acclaimed tough guy performances in films like Rumble Fish and The Rainmaker. He has recently taken to roles in direct-to-video and streaming films and reality competition series like The Masked Singer.

Following the revelation of his poor treatment of Siwa, actress Bella Thorne shared her own “gross” experience with Rourke. Thorne recounted shooting a particular scene of their 2020 film Girl in which Rourke’s character attacks Thorne’s: “I’m on my knees with my hands zip tied around my back… He’s supposed to take a metal grinder to my knee cap. Instead he used it on my genitals thru my jeans. Hitting them over and over again. I had bruises on my pelvic bone.”

Thorne said her time working with Rourke was “one of the all time worst experiences of my life.”

Celebrity Big Brother U.K. airs weeknights at 9 p.m. BST on ITV1 and ITVX.

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