Mickey Rourke is facing renewed scrutiny following allegations of misconduct from his former co-star, Bella Thorne, adding another layer of controversy surrounding the actor amid previous accusations and a recent warning on “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Thorne’s claims surfaced Friday via an Instagram post detailing her distressing experience working alongside Rourke in the 2020 film “Girl.” The post included a screenshot referencing JoJo Siwa’s prior accusations against Rourke and expressed Thorne’s disapproval with the phrase, “this f—ing dude.”
According to Thorne’s account:
- During filming, a scene required her to be on her knees with restraints, and she alleges Rourke misused a metal grinder intended for the scene on her genitals through her jeans.
- She described experiencing “bruises on my pelvic bone” and characterized working with Rourke as “one of the all-time worst experiences” of her acting career.
- In another instance, he revved his engine to cover her in dirt during the final scene, which she perceived as an act of humiliation.
- She also stated she had to enter Rourke’s trailer alone to persuade him to continue with the film, feeling compelled to “beg” him to remain involved for the sake of the production and the work of others.
Representatives for Rourke responded to these allegations, stating:
“We are aware of the deeply troubling statements made by Bella Thorne regarding her experience on set with Mr. Rourke during the production of a past film. These allegations are extremely serious. Mr. Rourke adamantly denies any intentional misconduct. He has not been contacted previously with any claims of this nature and was unaware of any discomfort expressed by Ms. Thorne at the time.”
The statement concluded, “Mr. Rourke will refrain from commenting further at this time but is prepared to cooperate fully with any appropriate inquiry. We extend our support to all professionals who deserve to feel safe and respected in their workplace.”
Thorne’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Prior to these allegations, Rourke was already facing backlash after a series of problematic comments made on “Celebrity Big Brother.” He received an official warning after making inappropriate remarks toward JoJo Siwa, who revealed she is a lesbian.
The exchange unfolded as follows:
- Rourke inquired about Siwa’s preferences, to which she responded that she was a lesbian.
- Rourke then stated, “I could tell,” followed by the concerning claim, “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.”
- Siwa countered with humor and assurance of her continued happiness in her relationship.
- He subsequently joked about tying her up, prompting a playful response from Siwa.
- Rourke then expressed his intention to “vote the lesbian out,” sparking a confrontation where Siwa identified the comment as homophobic.
- Rourke responded with a derogatory slur, claiming he was referring to cigarettes (a common usage of the term “fag” in British English).
Fellow contestant Chris Hughes swiftly intervened, confronting Rourke and highlighting the inappropriateness of his remarks. Siwa expressed gratitude for Hughes’ defense, noting her emotional state, while Hughes emphasized that it was a matter of “right and wrong.”
Rourke was subsequently called to the Diary Room, where he received an official warning and later apologized to Siwa, attributing his behavior to a “bad habit” and stating he did not intend any harm.
