Celebrity Big Brother bosses ‘were warned about Mickey Rourke’ after TEN years of meetings to sign him on UK shows
CELEBRITY Big Brother bosses were warned Mickey Rourke ‘was a liability’ before signing him for the show, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
The US actor, who is being paid six figures to appear on CBB, had numerous failed attempts to land similar gigs on UK shows going back 10 years.
Insiders have described 72-year-old Mickey as “a loose cannon with no filter” and said CBB bosses would have been warned this when signing him.
A source tells us: “Loads of people in the TV industry had meetings with Mickey going back as far as ten years ago, but each time it was decided he was too much of a liability to have on UK reality shows.
“He’s had zoom meetings and in person meetings in LA, but every time it didn’t work out as he’s such a loose cannon with no filter.
“He was way too risky for a lot of people to take a chance on.
“It was common knowledge in the industry and people would have warned ITV – nobody is surprised how he’s acting in the CBB house.”
Mickey, who found fame in a string of 80s movies including Year Of The Dragon and 9 1/2 Weeks, has already received a formal warning from Big Brother.
He was warned by show bosses for making a ‘homophobic slur’ towards 21-year-old housemate JoJo Siwa in Wednesday’s show.
US singer JoJo, who is gay, was left in floods of tears after he told her he would ‘change’ her sexuality within a few days.
He also said he was “going to vote the lesbian out real quick”.
Mickey was told: “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 said he understood and apologised to JoJo.
Her partner Kath, who identifies as non-binary, has branded Mickey a “disgusting and dangerous pig”.
Later in the same episode, Mickey horrified viewers and housemates further for ‘weight-shaming’ housemate Donna Preston as she relaxed with an LED mask in the bedroom.
When Mickey asked her if she was seeing any results, Donna told him she had only been using the mask – which helps with skin complaints – for a few months.
“You’d probably be better off running round the block for ten minutes,” Mickey responded.
Celebrity Big Brother 2025 line-up
Celebrity Big Brother is back for a brand new series, with a whole host of stars set to live it up in the famous compound.
Here’s the FULL line-up of star housemates:
Trisha Goddard – Talk show host
Mickey Rourke – Hollywood actor
Donna Preston – comedian and TV star
JoJo Siwa – influencer and singer
Chris Hughes – Love Island hunk
Jack P. Shepherd – Coronation Street star
Patsy Palmer – EastEnders legend
Daley Thompson – Olympic athlete
Chesney Hawkes – 90s singer
Ella Rae Wise – Towie star
Michael Fabricant – former Tory politician
Angellica Bell – former CBBC presenter
Danny Beard – Drag queen and Britain’s Got Talent
“I’ve got to try something, ” Donna added. “I’m getting a little turkey neck.”
Mickey then responded: “It comes with the territory.”
Confused, Donna asked: “What, life?”
“Yeah,” Mikey replied, adding: “It’s like they say, you are what you eat.”
Mickey has also been reprimanded for tampering with the cameras and removing his mic.
On the launch night, viewers called for Mickey to be axed after he grabbed host AJ Odudu and ‘stared’ at her during the live show.
Tonight, he will be seen clashing with Big Brother over the rules surrounding nominations.