It feels like a fever dream now, but it actually happened. In early 2025, the casting directors of Celebrity Big Brother UK decided to run a social experiment that nobody asked for. They threw Mickey Rourke—the Oscar-nominated, gravel-voiced veteran of The Wrestler—into a house with JoJo Siwa, the "Karma" singer and former Dance Moms star.
The result? Total chaos.
Most people expected some awkwardness. Maybe a few grumpy looks from Mickey while JoJo practiced her choreography in the kitchen. But what went down was way darker and weirder than typical reality TV friction. It wasn't just a clash of generations. It was a complete collision of two different worlds that ended with formal warnings, tears, and an eventual exit.
The Comments That Sparked the Backlash
Things went south almost immediately. During the first few days of production, Rourke decided to grill the 21-year-old Siwa about her personal life. It started "kinda" casual but got aggressive fast.
When Siwa mentioned she was in a happy relationship and identified as gay, Rourke’s response was, frankly, bizarre. He looked at her and said, "If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay any more."
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Yeah. He actually said that.
JoJo, who has basically grown up in front of cameras, tried to handle it with her usual professional polish. She told him she could "guarantee" she’d still be gay. But Rourke didn't stop there. Later, while sitting in the garden with fellow housemate Chris Hughes, Rourke was caught on a hot mic saying he wanted to "vote the lesbian out real quick."
Why the Public Reacted So Strongly
The internet didn't just get mad; it got exhausted. People were frustrated because Siwa was only 21, and Rourke, at 72, was acting like a schoolyard bully.
- The Power Imbalance: You had a legendary Hollywood actor using his "tough guy" persona to target a young woman.
- The Language: Rourke used an anti-gay slur while asking for a cigarette, later claiming he was just using British slang ("a fag").
- The Intent: While Mickey claimed he was "just talking smack," the repetition of the comments suggested something more targeted.
The producers eventually had to step in. Rourke was summoned to the Diary Room and given a formal warning for "unacceptable language and behavior." He looked confused. He apologized, saying he didn't have "dishonorable intentions," but the damage was done.
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The Aftermath of the Mickey Rourke and JoJo Siwa Feud
Siwa eventually used her "killer nomination" to put Rourke up for eviction. She called the decision "pretty easy." Honestly, can you blame her?
Eventually, Rourke was kicked out of the house. The official reason cited "instances of unacceptable behavior" and "inappropriate language." It was a messy end to what was supposed to be a big-budget comeback of sorts for the actor in the UK market.
What’s interesting is how JoJo came out of it. Usually, her high-energy persona can be polarizing, but in this specific situation, she gained a lot of respect for how she held her ground. She even ended up finding love on the show, confirming a relationship with her co-star Chris Hughes shortly after the season wrapped.
The Bigger Picture
This whole saga tells us a lot about the state of celebrity culture in 2026.
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- Old Hollywood vs. New Media: Rourke represents a "Wild West" era of acting where being difficult was part of the brand. That doesn't fly anymore, especially on live-streamed reality sets.
- Accountability is Instant: In the past, these comments might have been edited out. Now, fans catch every clip, and the pressure on networks to act is immediate.
- The "Gay Pop" Era: Siwa has leaned heavily into her identity as a "gay pop" artist. For her, these weren't just insults; they were attacks on her entire brand and personhood.
Mickey Rourke has since tried to distance himself from the controversy. Just recently, in January 2026, he’s been in the news for other reasons—specifically complaining about a fake GoFundMe page—but the Celebrity Big Brother shadow still follows him.
Moving Forward: What You Should Know
If you're following this story, it's worth looking at the full context of the show. It wasn't just a one-off comment; it was a week-long pattern of behavior that felt out of place even for a "villain" edit.
If you want to understand the impact of this feud, look at how JoJo Siwa has navigated her career since. She’s moved away from the "sparkles and bows" image and into a more mature, though still controversial, space. The Rourke incident served as a weird sort of "trial by fire" that proved she could handle old-school Hollywood pressure.
Actionable Insights:
- Watch the raw clips: If you can find the unedited garden footage, it gives a much clearer picture of the tone than the "best of" summaries.
- Follow the Chris Hughes connection: Much of the context for how JoJo felt comes from her interviews alongside Chris, who was there for the worst of the comments.
- Context matters: Understand that the "cigarette" defense is a common trope in UK reality TV, but when combined with the "vote the lesbian out" comment, it carries much more weight.
The reality is that Mickey Rourke and JoJo Siwa will likely never speak again. And after everything that happened in that house, that's probably for the best.