Celebrity Big Brother's Mickey Rourke to leave ITV show after 'unacceptable behaviour'
Mickey Rourke is set to leave the Celebrity Big Brother house after he was given a formal warning by Big Brother
Mickey Rourke has decided to exit the Celebrity Big Brother house, an ITV representative confirmed.
The spokesperson remarked: "Mickey Rourke has agreed to leave the Celebrity Big Brother House this evening following a discussion with Big Brother regarding further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behaviour."
This decision follows multiple warnings delivered by the management of Celebrity Big Brother concerning his actions within the residence, which included homophobic slurs and making disparaging remarks related to body image directed at other participants.
Prior to his arrival in the Big Brother house, Mickey had already raised eyebrows when viewers alleged he had given host AJ Odudu an intense stare.
Upon joining the reality show, he directed homophobic remarks at JoJo Siwa and suggested that he could 'turn her straight'. Engaging in conversation, he queried JoJo: "Where's the smoke room? Where's the cigarette room?", thereafter asking: "Do you like girls or boys?", reports the Mirror.
JoJo clarified: "Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary," only for Mickey to retort: "If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore."
JoJo countered: "I can guarantee I'll still be gay and I'll still be in a very happy relationship." As they proceeded to the garden, Mickey questioned Chris about the eviction process, intimating to the Love Island alumnus: "I'm going to vote the lesbian out real quick."
His comment was overheard by JoJo who responded, flagging the remark as homophobic and criticised his justification for it.
At one point, while discussing having a cigarette, he remarked: "I need a fag," before indicating towards JoJo and adding: "I'm not talking to you."
It was then that Chris Hughes intervened, saying: "Mickey, you can't say that." Big Brother issued a serious caution at the time, reprimanding him in the Diary Room: "Mickey before you entered the Big Brother house the rules regarding unacceptable language and behaviour were explained to you ... Mickey, do you understand how this language could be offensive to your Housemates or the viewing public?"
"Yeah I think so. If I was saying it in a nasty kind of way or if I truly meant it," Mickey responded, prompting Big Brother to clarify: "Mickey, Big Brother thinks your language was offensive and unacceptable...
"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?"
Acknowledging the gravity, Mickey replied: "Yes I do. It's some serious stuff... 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."
In another incident involving Donna Preston, Mickey suggested she might "probably be better off running around the block for ten minutes" as opposed to expecting results from her LED face mask.
And in a poignant moment on a recent show, Patsy Palmer was moved to tears following remarks Mickey made about her culinary skills.
Celebrity Big Brother continues Sunday on ITV and ITVX.