Veteran actor Mickey Rourke has voluntarily left the British edition of the reality television program Celebrity Big Brother after less than a week, following a series of incidents involving aggressive conduct and inappropriate language.
The 72-year-old departed the program this past Saturday, after producers held discussions with him concerning repeated violations of conduct standards. In a final statement from the show’s iconic diary room, Rourke took full responsibility for his actions.
“I crossed a line, and I accept that what I did was wrong,” Rourke stated. “I lost my temper, something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I know I have a short fuse, and I upset people. For that, I am truly sorry. I feel ashamed of how heated I became. I suppose I’m still a work in progress.”
A show representative confirmed Rourke’s exit was by mutual agreement, citing “further use of inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior.”
The actor’s tenure was marked by controversy from early on. Shortly after entering the house, Rourke made remarks to fellow contestant JoJo Siwa, a singer and public figure, regarding her sexuality. He also directed a homophobic slur during a separate conversation, which was met with immediate criticism.
The situation escalated during a team challenge later in the week. Footage showed Rourke in a heated confrontation with former Love Island contestant Chris Hughes, using profane language and appearing to challenge him physically. Although Rourke apologized after calming down, the incident proved to be the final catalyst for his departure.
Rourke had previously issued an on-air apology to Siwa, explaining his comments were not meant with “dishonorable intentions” and attributing them to his habit of “talking smack.” He reiterated a desire to develop “better self-control” moving forward.
His abrupt exit marks one of the shortest stays in the recent history of the long-running celebrity reality series.
