The Celebrity Big Brother house erupted into chaos on April 12, 2025, when Mickey Rourke, 72, was removed after a heated confrontation with Love Island star Chris Hughes, 32, during a pirate-themed task. The shocking moment, aired on ITV1’s April 13 episode at 9 PM, saw Rourke unleash a foul-mouthed tirade, accusing Hughes of “eyeballing” him and calling him a derogatory name, prompting Big Brother to intervene swiftly. This altercation, compounded by Rourke’s prior inappropriate sexual comments to Ella Rae Wise and homophobic remarks to JoJo Siwa, led to his exit, slashing his £500,000 fee to an estimated £50,000, per The Sun. Fans on X were left reeling, with reactions ranging from relief to outrage, cementing Rourke’s six-day stint as one of the show’s most controversial. This article breaks down the incident, its fallout, and the house’s response, drawing from Daily Mail, The Independent, and social media sentiment.

The Explosive Confrontation

The incident unfolded during a pirate-themed shopping task, where housemates, dressed as pirates, were led by JoJo Siwa as captain. As Siwa, 21, rallied the group, asking, “Ahoy. How have things been going out here?” Trisha Goddard, 67, playfully declared, “There is a rat amongst us, Captain.” Chris Hughes glanced at Rourke, prompting the actor to snap, “You looking at me?” Despite Hughes’ assurance it was a joke and Siwa’s attempt to defuse, Rourke escalated, shouting, “Don’t eyeball me. Don’t fing eyeball me, you c,” per Daily Mail. Housemates, including Danny Beard, pleaded, “He was joking—please,” but Rourke’s rage continued until Big Brother’s voice cut through, ordering him to the Diary Room.

+14
View gallery

The moment Mickey Rourke, 72, was shockingly removal from the Big Brother house has finally been revealed in a clip ahead of Sunday’s show

+14
View gallery

The Hollywood actor was thrown out of the ITV house after an altercation with Love Island’s Chris Hughes (pictured) which saw him explode into an obscene rant

+14
View gallery

The confrontation occurred during the latest pirate themed shopping task when Mickey accused Chris of ‘eyeballing’ him’ before calling the reality star a ‘c***’.

In the Diary Room, Big Brother confronted Rourke: “Earlier today in a disagreement with Chris, your language and behaviour was threatening and aggressive. Big Brother does not tolerate threatening language or behaviour. In addition, you have used inappropriate sexual language to Ella.” Rourke responded, “Yes sir. I did wrong. I apologise. I’m sorry. I can’t take it back, you know, I stepped over the line. … I’m ashamed of myself for losing it.” Big Brother, citing repeated “offensive and inappropriate” conduct, had “no option” but to remove him. Rourke admitted, “I went over the line, you know, I did wrong. … I just wanna pack my bags and leave. I wanted to leave yesterday actually but I wasn’t chosen,” per Deadline. No physical altercation occurred, but the intensity left housemates shaken.

+14
View gallery

‘Don’t f***ing eyeball me. You c***’ he went on, as more housemates continued to try and calm the furious actor down

+14
View gallery

‘Mickey, it was a joke’ Chris said again, only for the actor to point and the ground and reply: ‘No, your a** will be right there in a second’

+14
View gallery

Ella Rae Wise was left emotional by the altercation, saying: ‘It’s fine, you can be just someone, but be mindful of what it can trigger in other people, because it’s made me feel very uneasy’

+14
View gallery

Big Brother said that his behaviour was considered ‘seriously unacceptable’ and they had ‘no option’ but to ask him to leave

The Build-Up: Rourke’s Controversial Stint

Rourke’s exit wasn’t a standalone incident but the culmination of a turbulent week. From day one, he courted controversy, grabbing host AJ Odudu during his entrance, prompting fan backlash on X like, “Mickey’s hands on AJ? Instant red flag.” By April 8, he made homophobic remarks to JoJo Siwa, asking if she liked “girls or boys” and saying, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.” When Siwa affirmed her identity, he later said he’d “vote the lesbian out real quick” and used a slur, gesturing at her while claiming he meant “cigarette,” per BBC. Siwa called it “homophobic,” and Chris Hughes intervened, saying, “You can’t say that.” Big Brother issued a formal warning, which Rourke dismissed as “talking smack.”

Rourke also targeted Ella Rae Wise, 24, with sexual comments during the same task, telling her she didn’t need an LED mask but should “run around the block,” implying she was overweight. Ella, tearfully, told the Diary Room, “I’m a young girl, not a piece of meat. … It makes me feel on edge,” per ITV News. He further upset Patsy Palmer by mocking her cooking, leading her to cry, “I need to rise above it,” and fat-shamed Donna Preston, suggesting she skip her face mask for exercise, per The Mirror. These incidents, paired with his clash with Hughes, painted Rourke as a disruptive force, with The Independent noting his behavior was “acutely depressing” for a once-celebrated star.

The Aftermath: Housemate and Fan Reactions

The April 13 episode captured the house’s shock when Big Brother announced Rourke’s departure. JoJo Siwa was tasked with packing his bags, maintaining composure despite their history, earning X praise like, “JoJo’s strength packing Mickey’s stuff? Iconic.” Trisha Goddard shouted, “Told you!” reflecting her earlier warnings about Rourke, while Ella Rae Wise wondered aloud if he left voluntarily, unaware of the full context. Chris Hughes, visibly rattled, told Danny Beard, “I didn’t expect that,” but avoided further comment, focusing on the task’s failure, which left the house on an economy budget, per Daily Mail.

Fans on X were vocal, with many celebrating Rourke’s exit. Posts included, “Mickey Rourke is a creep. I’m glad he was removed—he crossed the line too many times,” and “Good riddance to Mickey. He made everyone uneasy,” per The Mirror. Others criticized ITV’s casting, saying, “They knew Mickey would be chaos—ratings over safety,” echoing a Daily Mail source claiming producers booked the “bad boy” for drama. Some sympathized, noting Rourke’s Diary Room confession about his “short fuse” and lifelong struggle, with one user writing, “Mickey’s a mess, but you can tell he’s hurting.” Viewership soared to 1.74 million, per Radio Times, proving the incident was a ratings win, despite Ofcom complaints, per The Sun.

+14
View gallery

JoJo Siwa was reduced to tears by Mickey when he made a revolting homophobic threat to ‘tie her up and convert her’ as Chris stepped into comfort her

+14
View gallery

Mickey sparked further backlash earlier in Friday’s episode after a blunt comment left EastEnders star Patsy Palmer in tears

+14
View gallery

Mickey also ruffled feathers in the house after he warned TOWIE’s Ella Rae Wise that she will be ‘an old bag’ one day

Why It Hit So Hard

The rant’s shock value lay in its suddenness and Rourke’s unfiltered aggression, a stark contrast to the task’s playful tone. Hughes, a seasoned reality star, was caught off-guard, and Siwa’s attempt to mediate highlighted the house’s tension. Rourke’s history—admitting his “career is in the toilet” and temper issues in a pre-show Sun interview—framed the outburst as inevitable. His earlier Masked Singer exit in 2020, where he unmasked himself impulsively, resurfaced on X, with fans noting, “Mickey can’t handle rules—same story, different show.” Variety’s 2024 report on reality TV’s ethical dilemmas suggests such casting risks harm for views, and Rourke’s case, sparking a “misogyny row” per Daily Mail, fueled calls for stricter vetting.

JoJo Siwa’s mother, Jessalynn, voiced fears of physical escalation, saying, “I’m sad I sent my kid to a foreign country for this,” while partner Kath Ebbs branded Rourke “dangerous,” per The Mirror. Ella’s distress and Patsy’s tears underscored the collateral damage, with fans on X arguing, “Ella and JoJo deserved better than Mickey’s toxicity.” Yet, Michael Fabricant’s defense—claiming Rourke planned to leave early, per This Morning—added nuance, suggesting he was overwhelmed, not malicious.

What’s Next for the House?

Rourke’s exit shifted dynamics, amplifying existing tensions like Ella’s nomination of Chris as “fake” for his bond with JoJo, and Angellica Bell’s clash with Patsy Palmer. Express odds now favor Danny Beard or Trisha Goddard, with JoJo’s resilience boosting her chances. The house faces Tuesday’s eviction, potentially involving Patsy or Jack P. Shepherd, and a failed task means tighter budgets, testing tempers further. The Guardian noted Rourke’s absence leaves a “calmer” house, but Ella and JoJo’s feud suggests drama persists.

For Rourke, the fallout is steep. Spotted in London making crude gestures, per Daily Mail, he seems defiant, but his slashed fee and Bella Thorne’s renewed misconduct allegations from their film Girl, per Deadline, darken his prospects. Celebrity Big Brother continues weeknights at 9 PM, but Rourke’s rant—raw, unscripted, and divisive—will define this season, leaving fans asking if reality TV’s chaos is worth the cost.