Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.
Just three episodes into the brand-new season of Celebrity Big Brother and there's already been major outrage from viewers at home over contestant Mickey Rourke's grim comments made towards fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.
Yesterday's instalment (9 April) proved to be quite shocking indeed after 72-year-old Mickey asked 21-year-old JoJo, who identifies as a lesbian, about her sexuality by telling her that 'if [he stays] longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore' before saying he would 'tie her up' in a what her partner has branded a 'rape joke'.
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Mickey was later heard telling former Love Islander Chris Hughes that he was 'going to vote the lesbian out real quick'.
"That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning," JoJo explained before Mickey later declared that he was going for a 'f*g', before pointing to the Dance Moms star and saying 'I’m not talking to you' - later clarifying he was using the British slang term to mean cigarette and not the extremely homophobic slur.
Chris then stepped in to call out Mickey for his comments, saying: "Mickey, you can’t say that."
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After Mickey left the area, Chris walked up to sit next to JoJo to check if she was okay, before she subsequently broke down in tears.
"You can't justify it because it's not right," Chris stated. "There's no point us sitting here and going, 'Oh, it's someone's age'... That's not a thing anymore."
Offering her a hug, he told JoJo : "Have a little cry, crying is my favourite therapy. Snuggle in. Have a good cry - that’s you getting your frustration out as well."
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JoJo then thanked the star for having her back.
Mickey was later called to the diary room where he was issued with a formal warning about 'unacceptable language and behaviour' inside the house before eventually apologising to JoJo, saying he made the comments because he has a 'short fuse' and that he 'didn't say it out of meanness'.
One Twitter user penned: "JoJo Siwa getting hate crimed not even 24 hours into her big brother experience just shows how rude homophobia still is, bless Chris for calling it out too, that's a REAL man."
"I have gained a massive amount of respect for Chris Hughes after that clip," praised a second. "It takes a lot for a man to tell another, older (richer & more famous) man that he’s out of line. So many people chalk it up to a ‘different generation’ and laugh it off, but he told him straight."
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A third chimed in: "My opinion is changing on Chris Hughes, he handled that brilliantly."
"Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa is the friendship I never knew I needed," gushed a fourth, while a fifth said: "Early prediction that Chris Hughes will win this series. What an all round lovely guy!"
Another echoed: "This is f*cking horrendous. how the f*ck he hasn’t been asked to leave the house, I’ll never know. not only hate criming her, but saying he’ll tie her up until she’s straight? F*cking disgusting.
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"Big up Chris Hughes too, that was beautiful of him."
A Big Brother spokesperson told Tyla: "All Housemates receive Respect and Inclusion training and an extensive briefing from the Big Brother Senior team to prepare them for living in the House and to set out Big Brother’s expectation for appropriate behaviour and language.
"Housemates are monitored 24 hours a day and instances of inappropriate behaviour are dealt with appropriately and timely."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]
Topics: Celebrity, Celebrity Big Brother, JoJo Siwa, Reality TV, TV And Film, ITV
Rhiannon Ingle