{"id":5624,"date":"2025-04-09T10:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T10:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/5624\/"},"modified":"2025-04-09T10:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T10:34:11","slug":"itv-has-no-excuse-to-keep-mickey-rourke-on-celebrity-big-brother","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/5624\/","title":{"rendered":"ITV has no excuse to keep Mickey Rourke on Celebrity Big Brother"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"AJ
\n\t\tViewers were left in shock by Mickey Rourke\u2019s behaviour towards AJ Odudu before he entered the Big Brother House (Picture: Vianney Le Caer\/Rex Features\/Shutterstock for Big Brother)<\/p>\n

Watching the opening episode of Celebrity Big Brother<\/a> 2025 on ITV<\/a> made my skin crawl.<\/p>\n

After skipping the last series, I couldn\u2019t wait to get stuck back into the show, particularly with the brilliant personalities included in the leaked line-up.<\/p>\n

I was ready to watch drag star Danny Beard<\/a> storm up the bookmakers\u2019 odds as a fan-favourite, and to learn more about what makes internet sensation JoJo Siwa<\/a> tick.<\/p>\n

Then out came Mickey Rourke<\/a>. And his atrocious behaviour towards AJ Odudu<\/a>. It disgusted me to my core. How he could be allowed to continue on the reality show after those first few moments is beyond me.<\/p>\n

After sauntering onto the stage, the 72-year-old Oscar nominee first shook presenter Will Best<\/a>\u2019s hand, before taking Odudu\u2019s and making her twirl.<\/p>\n

He then suddenly pulled her towards him, arm round her waist, and made her back slam into his torso as she laughed and said: \u2018You\u2019re very flirtatious!\u2019<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t believe the entitlement that I was witnessing on live TV. A man who seemed to act as though it was his right to make intimate physical contact with a woman he\u2019d just met, while she decided to grin and bear it so that she could continue doing her job.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"CBB
\n\t\tHow many of us have laughed off a man touching us without our consent due to the fear of him lashing out if we reacted with anger? (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n

While I might not have had the exact same experience as Odudu \u2013 being accosted on live TV by a powerful Hollywood star \u2013 unwanted and uncomfortable male attention is a universal experience for women.<\/p>\n

I wish I didn\u2019t, but I know how it feels.<\/p>\n

How many of us have laughed off a man touching us without our consent due to the fear of him lashing out if we reacted with anger? Or brushed off inappropriate behaviour because it \u2018could have been worse\u2019?<\/p>\n

Odudu smiled as she dealt with the situation with her co-host\u2019s help \u2013 but she shouldn\u2019t have had to, and it\u2019s shameful that it happened at all. In my opinion, Rourke shouldn\u2019t have been allowed to step foot into the house after that.<\/p>\n

Not least because his behaviour went beyond that initial greeting.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/video><\/p>\n

When the actor arrived on stage, Best, 40, began the interview by asking him if he thinks that he could win Celebrity Big Brother. Odudu, 37, then turned to him, saying how excited she was to see him on the show.<\/p>\n

Rourke took a step back, looking Odudu up and down with a leering stare and complimenting her on her outfit.<\/p>\n

Ever the professional, Odudu tried to continue with the chat, while Rourke carried on appraising her body, even attempting to look at her from behind while seemingly not paying any mind to the millions of people who were watching him through their TV screens.<\/p>\n

\u2018Stop looking at me! It\u2019s time for you to get in the house!\u2019 she exclaimed, while Best also tried to guide Rourke away, telling him: \u2018In you go Mickey!\u2019 as the Big Brother theme music began to play.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"CBB
\n\t\tIt\u2019s reported that the actor received a six-figure fee to appear on the show (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n

Odudu physically turned Rourke away from her, grabbing his shoulders and twisting him to face the entrance, but he resisted, saying: \u2018I want to stay with you.\u2019<\/p>\n

Later on the Celebrity Big Brother sister show Late and Live<\/a>, the incident was addressed by Alan Carr<\/a>, who stated: \u2018Can we talk about Mickey Rourke looking at you?\u2019 while imitating Rourke\u2019s eyes springing out of his skull.<\/p>\n

Members of the audience in the studio began booing and making thumbs down gestures, demonstrating exactly what they rightfully thought of the actor\u2019s actions towards Odudu.<\/p>\n

\u2018Find someone who looks at you the way Mickey Rourke looks at you, honestly. His tongue was hanging out,\u2019 Carr continued, appearing to make light of the situation when it would have been far more heartening for him to call out Rourke\u2019s behaviour for what it was: despicable.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Mandatory
\n\t\tAJ Odudu and Will Best ran back on stage to encourage Rourke to enter the House (Picture: Vianney Le Caer\/Rex Features\/Shutterstock for Big Brother)<\/p>\n

\u2018You can\u2019t afford these feathers Mickey. No!\u2019 Odudu quipped, as the other panelists laughed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been reported that Rourke received an enormous six-figure fee to appear on Celebrity Big Brother this year, making him one of the biggest signings ever on the TV show \u2013 but I don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t care if axing him from the show would be a detrimental financial decision. After the way we all saw him act when he met Odudu \u2013 brazenly touching her despite her protestations for him to stop looking at her \u2013 ITV should have cut their losses and got him out.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"WEST
\n\t\tI don\u2019t believe the \u2018scandal\u2019 fans think Rourke will bring to Big Brother is worth it at all (Picture: Paul Archuleta\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

While there are some fans who are justifiably furious about his behaviour, others have horrifyingly found him comical, hailing the \u2018chaos\u2019 and \u2018entertainment\u2019 that they believe Rourke is going to bring to Celebrity Big Brother.<\/p>\n

\u2018This show is the gift that keeps on giving,\u2019 one fan called @HelloItsLevi wrote on X.<\/p>\n

\u2018I needed a scandal this season and I believe Mickey Rourke will provide it,\u2019 another named @adammdaveyy added.<\/p>\n

No \u2013 we don\u2019t need Rourke in the Big Brother House for the sake of creating a scandal.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t need to watch a man who sends shivers down my spine in the worst possible way to be entertained. The bar is extraordinarily low if that\u2019s what viewers are lapping up.<\/p>\n

When Rourke eventually leaves the house (presuming he isn\u2019t removed by ITV bosses), it\u2019ll be expected for him to have an exit chat with Odudu and Best.<\/p>\n

Odudu is well within her right to refuse to be in the same room as Rourke after what transpired. If that\u2019s her decision, I hope she\u2019s heard and her wishes are respected. It\u2019s the least that could be done.<\/p>\n

Metro has contacted ITV, Mickey Rourke\u2019s representative and AJ Odudu\u2019s representatives for comment.<\/p>\n

Celebrity Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Lucy Connolly put my life in danger \u2013 keep her in prison<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Celebrity Big Brother\u2019s line-up is spectacular \u2013 and there\u2019s one clear winner<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Good Morning Britain star addresses \u2018dodgy eye\u2019 on air after sparking concern<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tTV Newsletter<\/p>\n

Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Viewers were left in shock by Mickey Rourke\u2019s behaviour towards AJ Odudu before he entered the Big Brother…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5625,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[2180,1456,312,77,13,208,3024,12,391,2650,14,382],"class_list":{"0":"post-5624","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-aj-odudu","9":"tag-big-brother","10":"tag-celebrity-big-brother","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-headlines","13":"tag-itv","14":"tag-itvx","15":"tag-news","16":"tag-opinion","17":"tag-reality-tv","18":"tag-top-stories","19":"tag-tv"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114307561477610646","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5624"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5624\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}