Mickey Rourke Sues ITV After ‘Big Brother’ Abrupt Exit

LONDON, UK — Actor Mickey Rourke is seeking legal action against the U.K. television station ITV after his rapid removal from the reality show Celebrity Big Brother. Rourke, who had been slated to appear for three weeks, was booted just six days into the series amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.

The incident has drawn public attention, particularly since it impacted Rourke’s agreed-upon payment. His fee was originally set at £500,000 but has been slashed to £50,000 following his exit from the program.

Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, confirmed that they are pursuing legal options, stating: “His legal team is currently pursuing the matter.” The reason behind Rourke’s removal reportedly stems from a combination of aggressive language and actions viewers found unacceptable.

Specific allegations against Rourke include claims that he used threatening language and made inappropriate sexual comments towards fellow contestants. In a reported instance, he was said to have grabbed the show’s host, AJ Odudu, during the launch night.

Moreover, Rourke allegedly made homophobic remarks toward another contestant, JoJo Siwa, telling her, “You wouldn’t be gay anymore if you stayed with me.” He was also criticized for comments made during a confrontation with housemate Chris Hughes, where he warned Hughes not to “eyeball” him.

In a subsequent confessional, Rourke expressed remorse, admitting, “I take responsibility for doing the wrong thing. ‘Cause I lost my temper… I’m sorry about that.” His apology did not prevent Big Brother producers from deciding to remove him from the house altogether.

ITV has yet to publicly comment on Rourke’s lawsuit or the circumstances leading to his dismissal. Meanwhile, Hines contended that the production team failed to handle Rourke’s persona professionally, leading to both his removal and the significant reduction in his contract pay.

As legal proceedings move forward, the entertainment community will closely watch how this situation evolves, particularly regarding contractual obligations and defamation claims that may arise from Rourke’s unexpected exit from the show.