Superstar Huge Brother is again, with a brand new roster of well-known (and not-so-famous) figures caught collectively within the well-known Huge Brother Home.
One contestant particularly, American actor Mickey Rourke, has been the reason for vital controversy after he was issued a proper warning by Huge Brother for making homophobic feedback directed at 21-year-old Dance Mothers star JoJo Siwa throughout Wednesday evening’s episode (9 April).
Through the trade, Siwa advised Rourke that she is homosexual, to which he shouted throughout the courtyard: “If I keep longer than 4 days, you gained’t be homosexual anymore.” He then proceeded to say he’ll “tie” her up.
Rourke then introduced he wanted a cigarette, stating that he “wants a fag”. He then pointed at Siwa, saying, “I’m not speaking to you.”
Siwa was comforted by Love Island star Chris Hughes as she broke down in tears, whereas Rourke was given a proper warning by Huge Brother within the diary room.
It comes after the 72-year-old star of The Wrestler was deemed to have “grabbed” and “ogled” at 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.”
Another person added: “JoJo Siwa should not have to continue living with someone who made her feel like that. Big Brother should scrap the formal warning and remove Mickey to show their support of their LGBTQ+ audience and housemates.”
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.”
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“Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and cases of inappropriate behaviour are handled appropriately and well timed.” Rourke’s representatives declined to remark.
The sequence continues at 9pm on ITV and ITVX.
‘Get him out’
Viewers have been sharing their disappointment with Huge Brother’s response to Rourke’s feedback.
“JoJo Siwa shouldn’t need to proceed residing with somebody who made her really feel like that. Huge Brother ought to scrap the formal warning and take away Mickey to point out their assist of their LGBTQ+ viewers and housemates,” wrote one viewer on X/Twitter.
One other added: “Outdated age just isn’t an excuse. Upbringing just isn’t an excuse. Humour just isn’t an excuse. Homophobia and bigotry haven’t any place within the #CBBUK home, deliberately offensive or not. What number of extra occasions does Mickey Rourke need to make individuals really feel uncomfortable and unsafe earlier than he’s eliminated?”
“There’s a distinction between winding individuals up and homophobia. kick. him. out,” mentioned one other.
A spokesperson for the programme advised The Unbiased: “All Housemates obtain Respect and Inclusion coaching and an intensive briefing from the Huge Brother Senior group to arrange them for residing within the Home and to set out Huge Brother’s expectation for acceptable behaviour and language.”
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 22:45
Additionally, can we get a second for Patsy Palmer?
Patsy Palmer’s facial expressions could have been the one entertaining a part of tonight’s episode.
Right here’s her sensible response to Mickey criticising her cooking:
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 22:19
Properly…that is that, then
This quote from a viewer sums up the overwhelming response to tonight’s episode in a nutshell:
“Mickey advised JoJo sSwa (21 years previous) that he’ll flip her straight, vote her out for being homosexual, and says ‘I would like a fag… not you’ AND HE ONLY GOT A WARNING??? NOT EJECTED??????”
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 22:17
Mickey tells Donna ‘you’re what you eat’
In one other uncomfortable second from Mickey, he commented on actor Donna Preston’s weight unprovoked.
Within the bed room, actor Donna was stress-free whereas carrying an LED facemask when she and Mickey by some means acquired onto the subject of her look.
She defined that she wasn’t feeling her finest, to which he replied, “It comes with the territory.”
When she probed him on what he meant by that, he replied, “You’re what you eat.”
He then casually advised her to go for a run across the block.
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 22:05
Mickey nonetheless hasn’t stopped utilizing that slur…
Within the bed room, Mickey talks to JoJo about Danny and drag queens.
JoJo says: “It’s lovely to see how the drag neighborhood has elevated through the years.”
Mickey asks: “It’s okay to say drag?”
JoJo and Chris say, “Yeah – drag queens.”
Mickey says: “It will get complicated… so not fag then?”
JoJo replied: “No… delete that phrase out of your stock.”
JoJo continued: “Something is okay to say in context and intention – that’s what issues. And if you happen to say one thing mistaken however you didn’t know and also you’re open to listening to – all good!”
JoJo is dealing with this all very gracefully.
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 21:59
JoJo has made her determination…
And he or she’s going to appoint Mickey for eviction.
“His time is lower quick, that’s the very best case state of affairs for me,” she says.
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 21:53
Mickey’s time may quickly be up
JoJo has the facility to place a housemate up for Friday’s eviction.
Judging by viewer reactions on social media, everybody thinks that Mickey ought to get the boot.
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 21:48
COMMENT: Mickey Rourke’s appalling homophobia is ITV’s disgrace to bear
The actor’s bigoted jokes had been probably the most surprising actuality TV moments in years. It’s unedifying car-crash tv that ought to by no means have made its method to air, writes Louis Chilton
Ellie Muir9 April 2025 21:43
