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 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.
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.”
“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.
Key Points
- Mickey Rourke issued formal warning on Celebrity Big Brother after homophobic comments
- COMMENT: Mickey Rourke’s appalling homophobia is ITV’s shame to bear
- Meet the housemates
- Chris Hughes comforts JoJo Siwa after Rourke exchange
- Mickey Rourke criticised for ‘disgusting’ behaviour towards host AJ Odudu
Celebrity Big Brother 2025: How to watch the show tonight
14:44
,
Maira Butt
'Shall I pack my bags?' asks Mickey
12:52
,
Ellie Muir
In tonight’s episode, Mickey will learn that someone’s used their Killer Nomination power to put him up for eviction (hint: it was JoJo).
Mickey says: “Shall I pack now?”
Big Brother responds: “Relax Mickey, stay where you are.”
Jojo Siwa’s furious partner sends message to Mickey Rourke after homophobic comment
11:20
,
Ellie Muir
Jojo Siwa’s partner Kath Ebbs has called out Mickey Rourke’s homophobic comment directed at the Dance Moms star.
Watch the video:
Chris Hughes praised for defending JoJo Siwa from Mickey Rourke’s homophobic comments
11:05
,
Ellie Muir
Love Island star Hughes has been praised for coming to Siwa’s defence during Wednesday night’s episode.
One viewer wrote on X/Twitter: “That was tough to watch but made me so proud to see how quick Chris called him out and was there for JoJo.”
Another person said: “This is how lesbians get treated in the outside world all the time btw, Jojo's experience is one I've been through so many times I've lost count,” adding: “To straight viewers watching: BE ALLIES. BE LIKE CHRIS. THIS BEHAVIOUR ISN'T ACCEPTABLE. CALL IT OUT.”
Read more below:
The most memorable CBB winners
05:00
,
Ellie Muir
Who will be this year’s most popular celeb?
REVIEW: It’s time to put the bleak Celebrity Big Brother out of its misery
01:00
,
Ellie Muir
“We’re only two seasons into ITV’s CBB reboot, but it already feels like time to put it out of its misery,” writes Katie Rosseinsky in The Independent’s review of the programme.
Read more below:
Comment: Mickey Rourke’s appalling homophobia is ITV’s shame to bear
Wednesday 9 April 2025 23:45
,
Ellie Muir
'Get him out'
Wednesday 9 April 2025 22:45
,
Ellie Muir
Viewers have been sharing their disappointment with Big Brother’s response to Rourke’s comments.
“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,” wrote one viewer on X/Twitter.
Another added: “Old age is not an excuse. Upbringing is not an excuse. Humour is not an excuse. Homophobia and bigotry have no place in the #CBBUK house, intentionally offensive or not. How many more times does Mickey Rourke have to make people feel uncomfortable and unsafe before he’s removed?”
“There’s a difference between winding people up and homophobia. kick. him. out,” said another.
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.”
Also, can we get a moment for Patsy Palmer?
Wednesday 9 April 2025 22:19
,
Ellie Muir
Patsy Palmer’s facial expressions may have been the only entertaining part of tonight’s episode.
Here’s her brilliant reaction to Mickey criticising her cooking:
NOT THE SHOT OF PATSY LISTENING TO MICKEY ROURKE CRITICISING HER COOKING #CBBUK pic.twitter.com/lUjnTpbzCp
— Ryan Love (@RyanJL) April 9, 2025
Well...that's that, then
Wednesday 9 April 2025 22:17
,
Ellie Muir
This quote from a viewer sums up the overwhelming reaction to tonight’s episode in a nutshell:
“Mickey told JoJo Siwa (21 years old) that he will turn her straight, vote her out for being gay, and says ‘I need a fag... not you’ AND HE ONLY GOT A WARNING??? NOT EJECTED??????”
Mickey tells Donna 'you are what you eat'
Wednesday 9 April 2025 22:05
,
Ellie Muir
In another uncomfortable moment from Mickey, he commented on actor Donna Preston’s weight unprovoked.
In the bedroom, actor Donna was relaxing while wearing an LED facemask when she and Mickey somehow got onto the topic of her appearance.
She explained that she wasn’t feeling her best, to which he replied, “It comes with the territory.”
When she probed him on what he meant by that, he replied, “You are what you eat.”
He then casually told her to go for a run around the block.
How many times, Mickey?
MICKEY DID NOT JUST SAY “you are what you eat” and tell Donna to run around the block. CAN THIS MAN GO PLEASE!?!? #CelebrityBigBrother pic.twitter.com/kgGNvLFydh
— Lex (@xlexierx) April 9, 2025
Mickey still hasn't stopped using that slur...
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:59
,
Ellie Muir
In the bedroom, Mickey talks to JoJo about Danny and drag queens.
JoJo says: “It’s beautiful to see how the drag community has elevated over the years.”
Mickey asks: “It’s ok to say drag?”
JoJo and Chris say, “Yeah – drag queens.”
Mickey says: “It gets confusing... so not fag then?”
JoJo replied: “No... delete that word from your inventory.”
JoJo continued: “Anything is ok to say in context and intention - that’s what matters. And if you say something wrong but you didn’t know and you’re open to hearing – all good!”
JoJo is handling this all very gracefully.
JoJo has made her decision...
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:53
,
Ellie Muir
And she’s going to nominate Mickey for eviction.
“His time is cut short, that’s the best case scenario for me,” she says.
Mickey's time could soon be up
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:48
,
Ellie Muir
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.
Just remembered Jojo has the power of the killer nomination #cbbuk pic.twitter.com/vIt6w3qo6K
— lottie (@l0ttiehall) April 9, 2025
COMMENT: Mickey Rourke’s appalling homophobia is ITV’s shame to bear
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:43
,
Ellie Muir
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
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:42
,
Ellie Muir
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
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:37
,
Ellie Muir
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
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:30
Chris comforts JoJo as she processes Mickey’s inappropriate comments
Big Brother tells off Mickey. But is that enough?
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:27
,
Ellie Muir
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'
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:26
,
Ellie Muir
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
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:23
,
Ellie Muir
“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.”
Mickey talks about his movie projects
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:20
,
Ellie Muir
He says that on the last day of filming The Wrestler, he was “shaking, crying and hyperventilating”.
Patsy Palmer reveals her real name...
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:16
,
Ellie Muir
It’s not Bianca... but Julie! EastEnders fans are surely losing it.
Mickey has been told off by Big Brother twice so far...
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:12
Mickey has already been told off for covering up the Big Brother cameras, and again for not wearing his microphone. Does he know what he’s signed up for?
He also seemed to wind up the other housemates by brushing his teeth in the kitchen sink. Classy.
The first morning in the Big Brother house
Wednesday 9 April 2025 21:03
,
Ellie Muir
And Mickey’s snoring woke everyone up...
What's coming up tonight...
Wednesday 9 April 2025 20:51
,
Ellie Muir
Sneak Peek ️ Mickey learns that some things shouldn't be said... #CBBUK pic.twitter.com/Lu41gal8aK
— Celebrity Big Brother UK (@bbuk) April 9, 2025
Who's who?
Wednesday 9 April 2025 20:15
,
Ellie Muir
Okay, so we know Mickey Rourke and JoJo Siwa are in the series this year. But who are the other housemates?
Find out the full list below:
Recap: What happened in Big Brother's Prize Room?
Wednesday 9 April 2025 20:00
,
Ellie Muir
Last night, Mickey was the first celebrity invited into Big Brother's Prize Room and offered to choose between three power prizes.
He chose the Guardian Angel power, which will allow him to select a housemate to receive immunity during Friday’s eviction.
It will be revealed who Mickey picked in tonight’s episode.
The most memorable Celebrity Big Brother winners
Wednesday 9 April 2025 19:45
,
Ellie Muir
While many famous faces have graced the Big Brother house over the years, only a select few have achieved the ultimate victory.
Will JoJo choose to evict Mickey?
Wednesday 9 April 2025 19:45
,
Ellie Muir
Last night, JoJo also won a prize, which will allow her to put one housemate up for eviction on Friday.
Will she choose Mickey?
What to brace yourself for tonight...
Wednesday 9 April 2025 19:18
,
Ellie Muir
As we’ve already been reliably informed of Mickey Rourke’s “unacceptable” comments, it sounds like tonight’s episode will mainly entail a back-and-forth of Mickey apologising to JoJo and the other housemates intervening.
Plus, they will have powers to use at the end of the episode...
COMMENT: It’s time to put the bleak Celebrity Big Brother out of its misery
Wednesday 9 April 2025 19:15
,
Ellie Muir
In The Independent’s two-star review of the show, Katie Rosseinsky writes: “As the 13 celebrities attempt a half-hearted conga around the kitchen, trying to win points to transfer into prizes, the whole endeavour feels particularly bleak. Surely almost everyone involved is cursing the fact that they didn’t get booked for Celebrity Traitors instead.”
Read more below:
Mickey Rourke criticised for ‘disgusting’ behaviour
Wednesday 9 April 2025 16:34
,
Ellie Muir
Mickey was criticised for “grabbing” and “ogling” host AJ Odudu during the launch episode.
Read more here:
The most controversial moments from Celebrity Big Brother over the years
Wednesday 9 April 2025 16:32
,
Ellie Muir
Previous iterations of the show have created TV gold, from Tiffany Pollard’s iconic “David’s Dead” misunderstanding to George Galloway and Rula Lenska‘s creepy cat cosplay.
As many high points as the show has had, there have also been moments of high controversy. Here’s a rundown of some of the most memorable...
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch
Wednesday 9 April 2025 16:30
,
Ellie Muir
Meet the contestants
Wednesday 9 April 2025 16:28
,
Ellie Muir
Catch up on who’s who of this year’s housemates...
Mickey Rourke issued formal warning after homophobic comments
Wednesday 9 April 2025 16:25
,
Ellie Muir
In tonight’s episode, Mickey Rourke will be issued a formal warning after making homophobic remarks directed at 21-year-old Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa.
In scenes that will air this evening, Mickey used a homophobic slur during a conversation with JoJo about her sexuality.
“Do you like girls or boys?” Rourke 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, Siwa tells him: “That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning.”
Read more below:
