Topics: Big Brother, Celebrity, Celebrity Big Brother, ITV, JoJo Siwa, LGBTQ, Reality TV, TV And Film, US News
Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.
A handful of Celebrity Big Brother viewers have arrived at the same conclusion after watching Love Island alum Chris Hughes forced to defend co-star JoJo Siwa from a number of homophobic comments.
The remarks were issued by American boxer Mickey Rourke throughout a number of episodes, and subsequently resulted in the 72-year-old being issued a stern warning by bosses of the British reality TV series.
During Wednesday's instalment, Rourke shocked viewers by explicitly asking 21-year-old Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa - who identifies as a lesbian - about her sexuality.
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The film star responded by telling Siwa that 'if [he stays] longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore'.
"I can guarantee I will still be gay and I will still be in a very happy relationship," US-born Siwa proudly responded.
Rourke then vowed he would 'tie her up' in a what her partner has since branded a 'rape joke'.
Taking to Instagram, Kath Ebbs branded him a 'pig' in a series of furious stories, adding: "I have literally... it has taken me many hours to even process what the f*** I just watched.
"Not only because that is the literal love of my life and I want to protect her at all costs, and I feel helpless that I can’t be there to not only comfort her but to also lose it at that f****** weasel of a man."
Siwa's partner then went on to point out: "That is a rape joke. That is. Call it what it is."
Minutes later, Rourke was later heard telling former UK reality star Chris Hughes that he was 'going to vote the lesbian out real quick' - to which Siwa responded: "That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning."
After, he then declared that he was going for a 'f*g' [cigarette], before pointing to the Dance Moms star and saying 'I’m not talking to you' - a move which prompted Hughes to shut down his controversial commentary.
"Mickey, you can’t say that," the 32-year-old warned.
Hughes then approached Siwa, telling her: "You can't justify it because it's not right.
"There's no point us sitting here and going, 'Oh, it's someone's age'... That's not a thing anymore."
After the former child star began crying, he added: "Have a little cry, crying is my favourite therapy. Snuggle in.
"Have a good cry - that’s you getting your frustration out as well."
Despite many viewers of the show having since heaped praise onto Hughes for his response to Rourke's homophobia, others have been left disheartened that he was the only other housemate to have had Siwa's back.
"Chris Hughes you diamond," one pointed out on X (formerly Twitter). "The only one in the garden to even try to shut that shit down."
Another wrote: "So many lesbians will relate to the moment between Mickey and JoJo Siwa. Sadly, we all have a story about a man making predatory comments on our sexuality, to which we could only smile out of fear of disturbing the peace.
"Thank GOD for Chris Hughes and his brilliant allyship."
A third asked: '[Why] is Chris the only one backing JoJo up she's 21 being bullied by an old man."
"That was tough to watch but made me so proud to see how quick Chris called him out and was there for JoJo," wrote another.
Another noted: "It's crazy how several people heard what Mickey said but only Chris spoke up and defended JoJo."
Following Hughes' intervention, Rourke was subsequently called into the diary room, where he was issued with a formal warning about 'unacceptable language and behaviour' inside the house.
He later apologised to Siwa, claiming he made the comments because he has a 'short fuse' and that he 'didn't say it out of meanness'.
