A poignant moment of understanding unfolded between pop star JoJo Siwa and veteran actor Mickey Rourke following a controversial exchange on the reality show *Celebrity Big Brother*. A video documenting their interaction, shared by Siwa’s mother, Jess, reveals a remarkable display of emotional maturity from the young performer.
The situation arose after Rourke made a series of deeply inappropriate and offensive comments during Wednesday night’s episode. Initially questioning Siwa about her sexuality, he stated, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore,” a remark that visibly upset the 21-year-old.
However, the video, now widely circulated on Instagram, illustrates how Siwa responded with empathy and compassion. Instead of escalating the conflict, she acknowledged Rourke’s personal struggles, referencing his difficult childhood and associated insomnia. “You do a great job until you’re surrounded by 13 strangers in a house and your emotions take over in a way that you could never predict,” she said gently.
Rourke, in turn, seemed to recognize the impact of his words and expressed a desire for growth. “I’m way better than I used to be,” he admitted, adding, “It took 23 years of therapy to get almost normal.”
The conversation continued on a surprisingly positive note.
- Siwa praised Rourke’s presence in the house as “beautiful to see.”
- When Rourke shifted the topic, asking about her tattoos, Siwa responded with laughter and affection: “I just adore you.”
Prior to this reconciliation, Rourke’s initial remarks had sparked significant backlash. The episode saw him ask Siwa directly, “Do you like girls or boys?” To which she replied, “Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary.” He then followed with the dismissive comment about altering her sexuality.
Further fueling the controversy, Rourke also used a derogatory term and attempted to vote Siwa out of the competition, prompting fellow contestant Chris Hughes to intervene. The incident resulted in producers removing Rourke to the Diary Room for reprimanding, where he reportedly acknowledged the inappropriateness of his words and apologized.
Siwa’s partner, Kath Ebbs, publicly condemned Rourke’s behavior as “dangerous.”
Jess Siwa’s accompanying caption on Instagram eloquently summarized her daughter’s approach:
“This went from heartbreaking to the purest form of acceptance; meeting someone where they are and befriending them for exactly who they are.”
The video, shared with Siwa’s 11.1 million followers, demonstrates a powerful message about empathy and understanding in the face of adversity.
“Love, (Proud) Dance Mom Jess.”
