Celebrity Big Brother is back, with a new roster of famous (and not-so-famous) figures stuck together in the famous Big Brother House.
Controversial contestant Mickey Rourke, Coronation Street actor Jack Shepherd and Tory politician Michael Fabricant are all facing the public vote. However, Rourke may have “saved” himself from eviction, after he drew sympathy from viewers and his fellow housemates on last night’s episode. The actor opened up about his childhood abuse, admitting it caused his insomnia.
Rourke, has been the cause of significant controversy after he was issued a formal warning by Big Brother for making homophobic comments directed at 21-year-old Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa during Wednesday night’s episode (9 April).
During the exchange, Siwa told Rourke that she is gay, to which he shouted across the courtyard: “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.” He then proceeded to say he will “tie” her up.
Rourke then announced he needed a cigarette, stating that he “needs a fag”. He then pointed at Siwa, saying, “I’m not talking to you.”
Siwa was comforted by Love Island star Chris Hughes as she broke down in tears, while Rourke was given a formal warning by Big Brother in the diary room.
The events have caused viewers to call for the actor to be axed from the series, with one person writing on X/Twitter: “He should be removed for this. It’s disturbing, particularly after how he was with AJ, too.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the programme told The Independent: “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 behaviour and language.
“Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and instances of inappropriate behaviour are dealt with appropriately and timely.” Rourke’s representatives declined to comment.
The series continues at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.
JoJo Siwa doing a reverse Mrs Doubtfire as “Billy”. Mickey Rourke is none the wiser
JoJo Siwa doing some dancing. She’s not pulled out her most infamous moves yet but there’s still time
Mickey Rourke lying sideways on the floor. He does not want to be there.
Viewers arguing over whether or not what Michael said was Islamophobic. Some definitely agreeing with Trisha.
Trisha accuses him of “slipping into Islamophobia” as he starts to wang on about preserving British culture.
Everyone else seems to think he was being fairly innocuous.
“She was stereotyping me,” he complains, being of course one of those oft-forgotten victims of prejudice: Tory MPs.