- Siwa is dating Kath Ebbs
- The actress and singer is currently on the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother
- Mickey Rourke caused controversy when he was homophobic towards Siwa
Mickey Rourke faced an immediate backlash on Celebrity Big Brother for his blatantly homophobic comments towards Jojo Siwa. Siwa’s partner Kath Ebbs has, unsurprisingly, had some strong words for him.
Rourke asked Siwa, “Do you like girls or boys?” to which she replied: “Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary.” Then, he said: “If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.”
“I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship,” Siwa replied.
Read more: Who is Jojo Siwa, The Celebrity Big Brother Star?
Later, it escalated when Rourke discussed the forthcoming eviction with fellow housemate Chris Hughes and said, “I’m going to vote the lesbian out real quick,” referring to Siwa.
Siwa said this was homophobic and Hughes backed her up. Rourke then said, “I need a f**,” before gesturing to her and adding: “I’m not talking to you.”
“You don’t stand a chance with anyone anyway because you’re a f****** loser”
Ebbs – whose pronouns are she/they – addressed the incident in a video posted to their social media, calling his comments “beyond disgusting.”
Read more: Celebrity Big Brother: What did Mickey Rourke say to JoJo Siwa?
“A lot of people want to know my thoughts on Mickey Rourke, or however the f**k you say his last name, on his comments towards my partner JoJo on Big Brother and quite frankly it is beyond disgusting and it’s literally taken me many hours to even process what the f**k I just watched,” Ebbs said.
“Not only because that is the literal love of my life and I want to protect her at all costs… but secondly take the fact out that I have massive emotional stakes in the comments towards her.”
Ebbs suggested Rourke’s remarks were misogynistic as well as homophobic.
“It is also just rooted in misogyny and violence… Firstly he asks her if she is into boys or girls, she answers that she is gay. He then proceeds to tell her that he is going to turn her straight… Once she shuts it down she says he’s going to tie her up. That is a rape joke, that’s what that is, call it what it is.”
They continued: “She shuts him down over and over again, he then goes, actually I’m going to get rid of you… If the male gaze is not a part of this situation… then I’m going to bully you.”
Later, Ebbs insulted Rourke directly: “You look like a f****** foot so you don’t stand a chance with anyone anyway because you’re a f****** loser.”
“Thank you Chris, thank you for doing my job”
She also praised Hughes for standing up for Siwa, but admitted disappointment that more of the housemates didn’t call Rourke out.
“Thank you Chris, thank you for doing my job… because he is a cis straight white man. And they’re the kind of allies… we need in situations like this to stand up to violent misogynistic homophobic men.”
She added: “I would genuinely be so disappointed if the public doesn’t vote Mickey out… He’s a pig and he is a dangerous person. I wouldn’t want to be alone in a room with him and I wouldn’t want f anyone to be alone in a room with him.”
How did the show deal with it?
Rourke was given a formal warning for his comments. Broadcaster ITV has not commented further on the situation.
Some fans of the show have argued that this didn’t go far enough and Rourke should have been ejected immediately.
However, Rourke might end up leaving the house soon anyway. He is up for the series;’ first eviction, which will take place later this week.
