Mickey Rourke’s brief but fiery stint on Celebrity Big Brother in April 2025 ended in his removal after just six days, but the signs of trouble were clear before he even entered the house. In a candid interview with The Sun published on April 8, 2025, the 72-year-old Hollywood star admitted, “My career is in the toilet,” blaming his “short fuse” for souring relationships with directors and derailing his A-list status. He warned housemates in his introductory video, “I don’t take orders very well, but if everyone is nice and respectful, we can have a good time. As long as nobody pushes the envelope because the envelope has a very short fuse.” These words, now seen as a chilling prelude to his exit, have resurfaced amid his ejection for aggressive behavior and inappropriate language. This article explores Rourke’s pre-show confessions, the events that led to his axing, and why fans are revisiting his warnings, drawing from recent reports and social media buzz.

Mickey Rourke was warned about his fiery temper years before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house(Image: ITV)

Rourke’s Pre-Show Revelations

Before stepping into the Celebrity Big Brother house on April 7, Rourke laid bare his struggles in a raw interview with The Sun. “I’ve made mistakes, many. I have nobody to blame for my ship sinking except myself,” he said, admitting his temper had cost him roles in “movies that have integrity.” Once a 1980s icon for 9½ Weeks and later an Oscar nominee for The Wrestler (2008), Rourke confessed he was no longer getting A-list offers, stating, “There’s directors I want to work with and have them not be afraid of me and trust me for who I am today, not for the reputation I have.” He chose Big Brother over a “really bad independent movie,” a decision driven by financial strain—he revealed borrowing $500,000 to survive COVID and a seven-month actors’ strike, per Metro UK.

His introductory VT, aired on launch night, doubled down on this volatility. “I have no clue about Big Brother, I thought Big Brother was the government,” he quipped, crediting actor Ray Winstone for advising him to “just be yourself and have fun.” But his warning about his “short fuse” was unmistakable: “Once it goes past a certain point, there’s no turning back. It’s on.” Fans on X noted the red flags, with one later posting, “Mickey literally told us he’d blow up, and ITV still cast him. Wild.” Another wrote, “He said his career’s in the toilet and he’s got no patience—why act surprised when he snaps?” These early signals, paired with his candid career regrets, set the stage for chaos.

Mickey Rourke admitted he’s been struggling with his temper ‘his whole life’(Image: Penske Media via Getty Images)

The House Implosion

Rourke’s time in the house was a masterclass in self-destruction, fulfilling his own prophecy. From the start, his behavior sparked alarm—grabbing host AJ Odudu on launch night, prompting her to say, “You can’t afford these feathers, Mickey, no!” Fans on X called it “creepy,” with one writing, “AJ needed security, what was that?” By day three, Rourke made homophobic remarks to JoJo Siwa, 21, asking, “Do you like girls or boys?” When she replied, “Girls. My partner is non-binary,” he said, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.” He later said he’d “vote the lesbian out real quick” and used a slur while gesturing at her, claiming he meant “cigarette.” Siwa called it “homophobic,” and Chris Hughes, 32, intervened, saying, “You can’t say that, Mickey.” Big Brother issued a formal warning, which Rourke brushed off as “talking smack,” per BBC.

The controversies piled up. Rourke made Ella Rae Wise, 24, feel “on edge” with sexual comments, like joking she needed to “run around the block” instead of using an LED mask, leading her to tell the Diary Room, “I’m not a piece of meat.” He mocked Patsy Palmer’s cooking, reducing her to tears, and fat-shamed Donna Preston. The final straw came on April 12 during a pirate-themed task, when Rourke swore at Hughes for a perceived “side-eye,” calling him a derogatory name. Though no physical clash occurred, ITV deemed his language “threatening and aggressive,” per Variety. In the Diary Room, Rourke apologized, saying, “I stepped over the line. … I’ve been trying to work on [my temper] my whole life and I’m very sorry. I’m ashamed of myself.” He admitted wanting to leave earlier, adding, “I did my hardest to get out of here.”

Why the Warning Resonates Now

Rourke’s pre-show admission of his temper and career woes has gone viral post-exit, as fans and critics dissect whether ITV ignored a ticking time bomb. Clips of his Sun interview and VT are circulating on X, with one user posting, “Mickey said point-blank he’s got a short fuse, and they still thought he’d last 19 days? Insane.” Another wrote, “He warned everyone his career’s trashed because of his temper, and Big Brother said, ‘Perfect, you’re hired.’” The backlash intensified when JoJo Siwa’s mother, Jessalynn, revealed her fear that Rourke’s verbal attacks could’ve turned physical, saying, “I’m really sad I sent my kid to a foreign country for this,” per The Mirror. Siwa’s partner, Kath Ebbs, called him a “dangerous person,” amplifying the stakes.

The resurfacing also ties to Rourke’s pattern of reality TV missteps. Fans have dug up his 2020 Masked Singer exit, where he unmasked himself as the Gremlin after one song, citing discomfort, per GoldDerby. On X, one user noted, “Mickey bailed on Masked Singer because he was ‘hot,’ and now he’s out of Big Brother for losing it. Same story, different show.” His Big Brother fee, initially £500,000, was cut to £50,000 due to his early exit, mirroring the wasted potential of his Masked Singer cameo, per The Sun. These parallels make his “short fuse” warning feel prophetic, raising questions about why producers took the risk.

Fan Reactions and Industry Fallout

The public is split. Some fans sympathize with Rourke’s openness about his struggles, with one X post reading, “Mickey owning his career’s in the toilet takes guts. He tried to warn them.” Others condemn his actions, saying, “A short fuse doesn’t excuse homophobia or making Ella cry. He knew his limits and still signed up.” Former housemate Michael Fabricant, evicted on April 11, defended Rourke, tweeting, “He wanted to leave on day one,” but claimed he “did nothing wrong,” a stance fans called “tone-deaf.” JoJo Siwa’s composure, meanwhile, has earned her a surge in support, with betting odds from Radio Times favoring her or Trisha Goddard to win.

Rourke’s exit has broader implications. A 2024 Ofcom report noted growing complaints about reality TV conduct, and his case—generating Ofcom scrutiny, per The Mirror—may push ITV to rethink casting volatile stars. The Independent called his stint “acutely depressing,” arguing it cemented his “self-sabotage” narrative, from trashing sets (like on Wheels of Heaven, per The Sun) to alienating directors. His warning about his temper, meant as a heads-up, now reads as a plea producers ignored for ratings, which hit 1.74 million for his exit episode, per Radio Times.

Could He Have Stayed?

Rourke’s honesty about his temper and career collapse suggested self-awareness, but not enough to navigate Big Brother’s pressure cooker. His apology, calling himself a “work in progress,” hinted at regret, but his post-exit behavior—flipping off passersby in London, per Daily Mail—shows defiance persists. Had housemates like Hughes or Siwa not challenged him, he might’ve limped to the finale, but his warning proved true: “There’s no turning back.” ITV’s gamble on his notoriety backfired, costing them his full fee and sparking a PR mess.

As Celebrity Big Brother continues weeknights at 9 PM, Rourke’s absence shifts focus to new dramas, like Ella’s nomination clash with Chris. Yet, his “short fuse” warning lingers, a stark reminder that some stars burn too bright for reality TV’s confines. Fans are left wondering if Rourke will salvage his career or lean further into chaos, with one X post summing it up: “Mickey told us who he was. We just didn’t listen.”