JoJo Siwa’s partner has slammed Mickey Rourke after the actor made a series of homophobic and misogynistic comments aimed at the 21-year-old.
The heated backlash comes after Wednesday night’s (April 9) episode of Celebrity Big Brother, in which 72-year-old Mickey Rourke made a string of offensive remarks aimed at JoJo Siwa.
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During the broadcast, Rourke claimed he could “turn Siwa straight,” then stated he “needs a f**” (a slang term for cigarettes), before pointing at her and saying, “I’m not talking to you.” He went on to say he would “vote the lesbian out” of the house.
The disturbing comments drew immediate outrage from viewers and led to Rourke receiving a formal warning from Big Brother.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the show said: “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,” they added.
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But for Kath Ebbs – who is non-binary and Siwa’s partner – the warning alone fell far short.
Watch Ebbs’ response below:
In an emotional video posted on their Instagram, Ebbs described the Rumble Fish actor’s behavior as “beyond disgusting” and slammed the show for airing what they called “dangerous language”.
“Firstly, he asks her if she is into boys or girls, she answers that she is gay. He then proceeds to tell her that he is going to turn her straight if she is in the house long enough. She shuts it down,” Ebbs explained. “Once she shuts it down, he says he’s going to tie her up. That is a rape joke, that’s what that is, call it what it is.”
They added that the language went far beyond homophobia, with Rourke’s comments rooted in something even darker.
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“[Siwa] shuts him down over and over again, he then goes, ‘Actually I’m going to get rid of you’. Which is rooted in misogyny,” Ebbs continued. “He deemed her unf***able in that moment and then went if the male gaze is not apart of this situation and I have no power over you sexually.
“Then he’s like ‘oh, well then, I’m going to bully you… If you are not going to play into my creepy jokes, then okay, I’m going to bully you, and I don’t want you here’ and then he proceeds to call her a f**,” they added.
While Big Brother issued a formal warning to Rourke and acknowledged the homophobia in his language, Ebbs called for the show to do more – and for the public to take a stand.
“Yes, I am glad that the production gave him a formal warning and told him he said he was homophobic, but that is dangerous, dangerous language… obviously it is a TV show with cameras everywhere and security,” Ebbs said.
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“I would genuinely be so disappointed if the public doesn’t vote Mickey out. I don’t give a f*** if you think he is entertaining, I don’t give a f***,” branding the actor a “pig” and a “dangerous person,” they concluded.
Ebbs gave credit to Love Island alum Chris Hughes, who stepped in to comfort Siwa during the uncomfortable exchange.
“And obviously we saw the beautiful Chris Hughes, which, thank you, Chris, thank you for doing my job,” Ebbs said. “I was very upset, and then when I saw him backing her, having her back and comforting her made me feel a little bit better, especially because he is a cis [cisgender] straight white man.
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“And they’re the kind of allies, unfortunately. I hate to say it, that we need in situations like this to stand up to f****** misogynistic, homophobic men,” they added.
Since the episode aired, viewers have flooded social media with calls to remove Rourke from the house.
“Mickey Rourke should be out of that house. Violence against women and girls is not a laughing matter, dinosaurs who believe they can turn homosexual women straight with rape belong in the stone ages & deserve no platform in today’s world,” one user on X wrote.
“Mickey Rourke is absolutely disgustingly vile, a warning isn’t enough he should be kicked out immediately,” another user commented, while a third added: “Mickey Rourke should be kicked out of the BB house. Sorry but that’s not free speech. It’s bullying, harassment and it’s not funny.”
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Rourke has since apologized to Siwa multiple times, blaming his outburst on a “short fuse.” Siwa told him she appreciated the apology.