Celebrity Big Brother fans call for Mickey Rourke's removal after formal warning

Celebrity Big Brother fans have called for Mickey Rourke's removal from the show after he received a formal warning on Wednesday (April 9).

In the latest instalment of the popular ITV reality series, Hollywood actor Mickey posed a question to American internet sensation JoJo Siwa about where to smoke a cigarette.

He then asked, "Do you like girls or boys?" with JoJo answering, "Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary."

Mickey then joked, "If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore," to which JoJo firmly responded, "I can guarantee I'll still be gay and I'll still be in a very happy relationship."

Later, in the garden, Mickey questioned Love Island's Chris Hughes about whether they all had to vote someone out, adding, "I'm going to vote the lesbian out real quick," reports

When JoJo heard this, she confronted him, commenting, "That's homophobic, if that was your reasoning."

Subsequently, Mickey remarked, "I need a fag," and gestured towards JoJo, saying, "I'm not talking to you."

Chris quickly expressed his disapproval of Mickey's words, telling him, "Mickey, you can't say that," to which the actor clarified, "I know. I was talking about a cigarette."

JoJo was clearly distressed by the exchange, with Chris offering her consolation. The situation then escalated as Big Brother summoned Mickey into the Diary Room, where he was issued a formal warning for his use of "offensive and unacceptable" language.

"Further language or behaviour of this nature could lead to you being removed from the Big Brother house. Mickey, do you understand?" Big Brother warned, with Mickey responding: "Yes I do. It's some serious stuff. I apologise. I don't have dishonourable intentions.

"I'm just talking smack you know. I wasn't talking it all so serious. I didn't mean it in any bad intentions and if I did, sorry."

Later on, Mickey took JoJo aside and said: "I want to apologise. I've got a habit of having a short fuse. And I don't mean nothing by it, I do mean it [sorry]. If I didn't, I wouldn't say it to you."

JoJo then acknowledged that she appreciated Mickey's apology.

The incident sparked outrage among Celebrity Big Brother fans on X (formerly Twitter), with a surge of viewers demanding Mickey's removal from the show.

"Someone get this man out of the house this is ridiculous," one viewer demanded, while another insisted: "Get Mickey out now! That discussion was horrible."

A third spectator commented: "JoJo doesn't deserve to be talked to like that. Mickey is trying to get himself kicked out," and yet another questioned: "How is Mickey still in there?"

Another fan concurred, stating: "Mickey really should be removed for those comments. Housemates have been kicked out for the same kind of behaviour before."

Celebrity Big Brother is available to stream on ITVX