Celebrity Big Brother is back, with a new roster of famous (and not-so-famous) figures stuck together in the famous Big Brother House.
One contestant in particular, American actor Mickey 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.
The exchange begins with Rourke asking Siwa about her sexuality, to which she replies: “Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary.”
He then says: “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.” Later in the conversation, Rourke announces he needs a cigarette, stating that he “needs a f**”. He then points at Siwa, saying, “I’m not talking to you.”
After being told he “can’t say that”, Rourke replies: “I know. I was talking about a cigarette.”
It comes after the the 72-year-old star of The Wrestler was deemed to have “grabbed” and “ogled” series presenter AJ Odudu upon first entering the house.
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.”
The series continues at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.
Mickey’s time could soon be up
JoJo has the power to put a housemate up for Friday’s eviction.
Judging by viewer reactions on social media, everyone thinks that Mickey should get the boot.
COMMENT: Mickey Rourke’s appalling homophobia is ITV’s shame to bear
The actor’s bigoted jokes were one of the most shocking reality TV moments in years. It’s unedifying car-crash television that should never have made its way to air, writes Louis Chilton
Read more below:
JoJo handled that so gracefully
JoJo said she appreciated Mickey’s apology so gracefully. But will a slap on the wrist from Big Brother be enough?
What an uncomfortable watch.
Mickey tries to make amends
After leaving the diary room, Mickey finds out that JoJo was left upset by his remarks, and he asks if she’s okay.
Chris says: “I understand you might have thought it would be uninsulting but it’s the way it’s perceived on other people. JoJo was very upset earlier, bless her.”
Mickey turns to JoJo and says, “You were? Sorry. Are we ok?”
JoJo tells him that for future reference, the slur he used is not acceptable.
Mickey later speaks to Siwa and says, “I want to apologise. I’ve got a habit of having a short fuse. And I don’t mean nothing by it. I do mean it [sorry]. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t say it to you.”
JoJo says: “I appreciate your apology.”
JoJo is upset by Mickey’s comments
Chris comforts JoJo as she processes Mickey’s inappropriate comments
Big Brother tells off Mickey. But is that enough?
Shortly after the exchange in the garden, Big Brother calls Rourke into the Diary Room, where he is issued a formal warning for his “offensive and unacceptable” language.
Big Brother says: “Mickey, Big Brother thinks your language was offensive and unacceptable.”
“Alright. I can understand that,” replies Mickey.
Big Brother continues: “As a result, Big Brother is giving you a formal warning. Further language or behaviour of this nature could lead to you being removed from the Big Brother house. Mickey, do you understand?”
Mickey says: “Yes I do. It’s some serious stuff.”
Big Brother replies: “Mickey, is there anything you’d like to say?”
Mickey adds: “I apologise. I don’t have dishonourable intentions – I’m just talking smack you know. I wasn’t taking it all so serious. I didn’t mean in it any bad intentions and if I did, sorry.”
‘You can’t say that, Mickey’
Mickey, shouting across the courtyard, announces he is going to smoke a cigarette, stating that he “needs a fag”. He then points at Siwa, saying, “I’m not talking to you.”
After being told he “can’t say that”, Mickey replies: “I know. I was talking about a cigarette.”
JoJo says to herself: “One breath at a time.”
Mickey insists he will ‘tie up’ JoJo Siwa before making homophobic remark
“Do you like girls or boys?” Mickey asks the singer.
Siwa, who went public with her relationship with partner Kath Ebbs this year, replies: “Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary.”
He then says: “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.”
Siwa pushes back at the comment, saying: “I can guarantee I’ll still be gay, and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.”
Later speaking to Chris Hughes in the garden, Rourke says he is going to “vote out the lesbian real quick”.
Overhearing the exchange, JoJo tells him: “That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning.”