Latest news with #TheWrestler
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
China's pro-wrestlers search for a star to bring the sport out of the shadows
Rising from the ground with 73kg of writhing muscle on his shoulders, Wang Tao grimaced. The man whose legs were wrapped around his head was not giving up, pulling at Wang's silver-tipped hair, dyed especially for the occasion. But Wang knew what he had to do. Reaching up with one arm, he grasped his opponent's neck, and pulled forwards, flinging him to the ground. Seconds later, Wang had him pinned to the floor for a three-count, and had successfully defended his title as Middle Kingdom Wrestling's 'Belt and Road' champion. Advertisement The crowd in Beijing went wild. 'It was so much better than I expected,' said Wang, beaming with a post-match adrenaline rush. 'The audience reaction was really, really good'. Even Wang's defeated opponent, Shaheen Alshehhi, was impressed. 'You're fucking awesome,' he , said after the match, inviting Wang to compete in Dubai. Wang is the 25-year-old poster boy for an industry that has struggled for years to gain a foothold in China, despite a huge potential market and a culture that enjoys its own rich history of martial arts and professional fighting. Less than 10% of households with internet access watch pro-wrestling, according to a 2023 survey by S&P Global, a market intelligence company. For sports like basketball and football, the figure is over 50%. Some in the industry hope that Wang could make the sport popular in China the way it is in America. Wang fell in love with wrestling after watching The Wrestler, an American movie starring Mickey Rourke, as a 15-year-old in rural Henan, one of China's poorest provinces. Two years later he ran away from home to train at a wrestling camp hundreds of miles away. Advertisement Related: Inside China's pro wrestling scene – in pictures Saturday's event – to mark 10 years since the founding of Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW), one of China's few pro-wrestling organisations – was the first time that the teenage runaway had ever been to Beijing. He couldn't sleep the night before with excitement. Now his brawn, showmanship, and the glitzy all-American spectacle of pro-wrestling is set to take the boy from the Chinese countryside from the middle kingdom to the Middle East. 'If it wasn't for wrestling, I probably wouldn't even have a passport,' he said. Sports or entertainment? World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) launched in China in 2016, signing a streaming deal with a local platform and scouring China for homegrown talent. It is still pursuing an audience in China, and in 2020 reportedly signed a new partnership agreement with iQiyi, a Chinese streaming service. Events are also broadcast on some regional channels. Advertisement But the sport's reach is limited because of a lack of official support and cultural understanding. Chinese authorities often confuse the choreographed events for actual fighting, or disapprove of the general air of anarchy that surrounds raucous matches. The sports-or-entertainment quandary has baffled Chinese regulators, said Ho Ho Lun, a 37-year-old wrestling producer and performer who also competed on Saturday. Wrestling's 'theatrical elements' mean that sports authorities often punt responsibility for events to the entertainment bureau, while the entertainment bureau often wants to punt it straight back. 'So we're in between, that's our challenge,' Ho said. Later that night, he entered the ring at MKW's sold-out event dressed in metallic green and silver trousers and a T-shirt emblazoned with a kung fu cartoon of himself performing a flying side kick. It's not just regulators who are confused. 'Most Chinese people still think wrestling is fake compared to real fighting. They don't understand it,' said Zhang, a 21-year-old student who travelled to Beijing from neighbouring Hebei to watch Saturday's match. The winners in pro-wrestling matches are pre-decided, but fans insist that the athleticism and storytelling on display make it just as, if not more, compelling than other types of sport performances. Advertisement Adrian Gomez, a 37-year-old wrestling fanatic who founded MKW in 2015, is on a mission to change that. 'You can't just throw money at a market and expect it to work,' said Gomez, who hails from Arizona. 'I think that WWE underestimated the fact that there still needs to be more connection with Chinese fans … they still want something that feels a little bit more authentic'. In that vein, many of MKW's wrestlers incorporate traditional Chinese elements into their characters. At Saturday's soiree, one wrestler wore a long black Qing dynasty-style robe complete with a high mandarin collar and Chinese knot buttons. Another donned a red-and-gold Peking opera style mask, not dissimilar to the colourful wrestling face coverings worn by fans in the audience. Han Guangchen, a burly wrestler and film-maker from Shanghai, said videos that include elements of traditional Chinese martial arts do vastly better on social media. The search for a breakout star But what Chinese wrestling really needs, according to the aficionados, is one big name. 'Until we have one Jay Chou of wrestling that creates a big superstar, [going mainstream] will take some time,' said Ho, referring to the Taiwanese singer who is arguably the biggest Sinophone pop star in the world. Advertisement In 2016, as part of its China launch, WWE signed Wang Bin, a young Chinese athlete who was scouted in Japan. He caused a buzz as the American company's first mainland Chinese wrestler, but he terminated his contract just two years later. 'American wrestling focuses more on performance,' Wang said at the time, while his first love, Japanese wrestling, 'focuses more on fighting style and real skills'. Wang claimed to love both, but WWE deemed that he didn't have the acting charisma necessary to excel in the idiosyncratic universe of American pro-wrestling. Could Wang Tao be the answer? Now a full-time wrestler, he barely makes ends meet by competing in matches and making online content. But his reach is limited, with even the most popular videos attracting only about 1,000 viewers. Many of his friends have dropped out of the nascent industry because of the financial insecurity, he said. Although it hasn't made him rich, it's taken him to places he couldn't have dreamed of a few years ago. 'When I get into the ring, with all the lights on and the crowds cheering, I feel that all the effort has been worth it,' he said. MKW's fans seem to agree, going wild for fist bumps and high fives when he stepped out of the ring. Laurel Burns, an American drama teacher in Beijing, was among the chanting and cheering crowd. 'I was so excited to touch him,' she said.
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
China's pro-wrestlers search for a star to bring the sport out of the shadows
Rising from the ground with 73kg of writhing muscle on his shoulders, Wang Tao grimaced. The man whose legs were wrapped around his head was not giving up, pulling at Wang's silver-tipped hair, dyed especially for the occasion. But Wang knew what he had to do. Reaching up with one arm, he grasped his opponent's neck, and pulled forwards, flinging him to the ground. Seconds later, Wang had him pinned to the floor for a three-count, and had successfully defended his title as Middle Kingdom Wrestling's 'Belt and Road' champion. The crowd in Beijing went wild. 'It was so much better than I expected,' said Wang, beaming with a post-match adrenaline rush. 'The audience reaction was really, really good'. Even Wang's defeated opponent, Shaheen Alshehhi, was impressed. 'You're fucking awesome,' he , said after the match, inviting Wang to compete in Dubai. Wang is the 25-year-old poster boy for an industry that has struggled for years to gain a foothold in China, despite a huge potential market and a culture that enjoys its own rich history of martial arts and professional fighting. Less than 10% of households with internet access watch pro-wrestling, according to a 2023 survey by S&P Global, a market intelligence company. For sports like basketball and football, the figure is over 50%. Some in the industry hope that Wang could make the sport popular in China the way it is in America. Wang fell in love with wrestling after watching The Wrestler, an American movie starring Mickey Rourke, as a 15-year-old in rural Henan, one of China's poorest provinces. Two years later he ran away from home to train at a wrestling camp hundreds of miles away. Saturday's event – to mark 10 years since the founding of Middle Kingdom Wrestling (MKW), one of China's few pro-wrestling organisations – was the first time that the teenage runaway had ever been to Beijing. He couldn't sleep the night before with excitement. Now his brawn, showmanship, and the glitzy all-American spectacle of pro-wrestling is set to take the boy from the Chinese countryside from the middle kingdom to the Middle East. 'If it wasn't for wrestling, I probably wouldn't even have a passport,' he said. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) launched in China in 2016, signing a streaming deal with a local platform and scouring China for homegrown talent. It is still pursuing an audience in China, and in 2020 reportedly signed a new partnership agreement with iQiyi, a Chinese streaming service. Events are also broadcast on some regional channels. But the sport's reach is limited because of a lack of official support and cultural understanding. Chinese authorities often confuse the choreographed events for actual fighting, or disapprove of the general air of anarchy that surrounds raucous matches. The sports-or-entertainment quandary has baffled Chinese regulators, said Ho Ho Lun, a 37-year-old wrestling producer and performer who also competed on Saturday. Wrestling's 'theatrical elements' mean that sports authorities often punt responsibility for events to the entertainment bureau, while the entertainment bureau often wants to punt it straight back. 'So we're in between, that's our challenge,' Ho said. Later that night, he entered the ring at MKW's sold-out event dressed in metallic green and silver trousers and a T-shirt emblazoned with a kung fu cartoon of himself performing a flying side kick. It's not just regulators who are confused. 'Most Chinese people still think wrestling is fake compared to real fighting. They don't understand it,' said Zhang, a 21-year-old student who travelled to Beijing from neighbouring Hebei to watch Saturday's match. The winners in pro-wrestling matches are pre-decided, but fans insist that the athleticism and storytelling on display make it just as, if not more, compelling than other types of sport performances. Adrian Gomez, a 37-year-old wrestling fanatic who founded MKW in 2015, is on a mission to change that. 'You can't just throw money at a market and expect it to work,' said Gomez, who hails from Arizona. 'I think that WWE underestimated the fact that there still needs to be more connection with Chinese fans … they still want something that feels a little bit more authentic'. In that vein, many of MKW's wrestlers incorporate traditional Chinese elements into their characters. At Saturday's soiree, one wrestler wore a long black Qing dynasty-style robe complete with a high mandarin collar and Chinese knot buttons. Another donned a red-and-gold Peking opera style mask, not dissimilar to the colourful wrestling face coverings worn by fans in the audience. Han Guangchen, a burly wrestler and film-maker from Shanghai, said videos that include elements of traditional Chinese martial arts do vastly better on social media. But what Chinese wrestling really needs, according to the aficionados, is one big name. 'Until we have one Jay Chou of wrestling that creates a big superstar, [going mainstream] will take some time,' said Ho, referring to the Taiwanese singer who is arguably the biggest Sinophone pop star in the world. In 2016, as part of its China launch, WWE signed Wang Bin, a young Chinese athlete who was scouted in Japan. He caused a buzz as the American company's first mainland Chinese wrestler, but he terminated his contract just two years later. 'American wrestling focuses more on performance,' Wang said at the time, while his first love, Japanese wrestling, 'focuses more on fighting style and real skills'. Wang claimed to love both, but WWE deemed that he didn't have the acting charisma necessary to excel in the idiosyncratic universe of American pro-wrestling. Could Wang Tao be the answer? Now a full-time wrestler, he barely makes ends meet by competing in matches and making online content. But his reach is limited, with even the most popular videos attracting only about 1,000 viewers. Many of his friends have dropped out of the nascent industry because of the financial insecurity, he said. Although it hasn't made him rich, it's taken him to places he couldn't have dreamed of a few years ago. 'When I get into the ring, with all the lights on and the crowds cheering, I feel that all the effort has been worth it,' he said. MKW's fans seem to agree, going wild for fist bumps and high fives when he stepped out of the ring. Laurel Burns, an American drama teacher in Beijing, was among the chanting and cheering crowd. 'I was so excited to touch him,' she said.
Metro
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
JoJo Siwa has 'sympathy' for Mickey Rourke after homophobic comments
JoJo Siwa has said she has 'sympathy' for Mickey Rourke after the homophobic comments he made to her in the Celebrity Big Brother house. Hollywood star Mickey, 72, was eventually kicked out of the ITV reality programme after a series of incidents. He caused outrage during his time on Celebrity Big Brother, sparking more than 1,000 Ofcom complaints and risking his rumoured £500,000 fee, from the moment he stepped in front of cameras when he displayed 'creepy' behaviour towards host AJ Odudu during the launch. Just hours later, he used a homophobic slur against popstar JoJo, saying: saying: 'If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore.' He was given a formal warning by Big Brother, while JoJo gave him a killer nomination, but he was later axed from the house after his behaviour and language to Love Island star Chris Hughes during a disagreement in a task was considered to be threatening and physical, though no physical altercation took place. Several stars have spoken out about Mickey's behaviour, and JoJo has now spoken about the drama. On Celebrity Big Brother 2025, Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke sparked uproar with homophobic comments that he made towards internet sensation JoJo Siwa. Speaking in the House, Rourke, 72, asked Siwa, 21: 'So do you like girls or boys?' 'Me? Girls,' Siwa answered, to which Rourke responded: 'I know, I could tell.' After the dancer shared that her partner is non-binary, the housemates who were in the garden started to talk about the eviction due to take place that week on Friday night. 'If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore,' Rourke remarked, as Siwa said back to him: 'I can guarantee I will still be gay and I will still be in a very happy relationship.' 'I'll tie you up,' The Wrestler actor replied. 'I can promise you that won't happen,' Siwa stated. 'I dare you to try, you'll be the one tied up.' Rourke then spoke to some other housemates, asking about the process of voting out other contestants on Celebrity Big Brother. 'I'm going to vote the lesbian out real quick,' he said, as Siwa – who was lying on a sun lounger – turned her head towards him and declared: 'That's homophobic.' 'Eh?' Rourke asked, as Siwa continued: 'That's homophobic if that was your reasoning.' After the actor repeated that he was going to 'vote the lesbian out', he then used a slang word beginning with f to say that he wanted a cigarette. However, he then gestured towards Siwa and quipped: 'Not talking to you,' seemingly referencing the f word that's used as an anti-gay slur. Love Island star Chris Hughes, who was sitting next to Rourke, told him: 'You can't say that Mickey,' while Siwa kept her composure and said: 'One breath at a time troops, one breath at a time.' After Hughes repeated his warning to Rourke, the actor insisted that he had been talking about a cigarette before walking off on his own. The reality TV star went over to check on Siwa, consoling her as she cried in his arms over the upset. At the same time, Rourke was called to the Diary Room, where he received a formal warning for his remarks. Later on inside the lounge, Rourke went over to Siwa as he told her: 'I want to apologise,' telling her that he has a 'bad habit of having a short fuse'. 'I don't mean nothing by it. Ok sorry,' he said as he shook her hand, while she told him that she appreciated his apology. Rourke's homophobic comments towards Siwa happened a day after he was criticised for touching presenter AJ Odudu 'inappropriately' on stage. 'I think I learned very, very quickly that Mickey is not a good man, right?' she said in an interview with Us Weekly. 'But two truths can exist. I can say Mickey's not a good man. And I can say I have sympathy for Mickey. 'And I think one thing that Mickey has not gotten in a very long time in his life is sympathy or a conversation about something rather than a celebrity story, a movie he was in.' When asked how she stayed so calm after Mickey's vile comments, the Dance Moms star continued: 'Something else that I am very prominent on in my life is that if somebody thinks differently than you, whether that be on different social or political things in the world, would you get them a bandaid? And that's how I decide if I can be good to somebody or not. 'Mickey Rourke and I have different brains. We handle things differently. We're different people. 'I would, no matter what, if he cut his finger, get him a bandaid. And I think Mickey would give me a bandaid. I don't think he would know where they are, but the intention is there! 'And that's a message that I really stand strongly behind, is if somebody has different views than you, that doesn't mean you cannot coexist.' While JoJo was still in the house, her mother Jessalyn spoke out against Mickey, saying she's 'really sad' by it all. 'I'm not surprised that he didn't go home. I knew he wouldn't,' she began in a video. 'I'm really sad, though, that I sent my kid to a foreign country to do a TV show and she got treated like that— right away, right out of the gate. 'She handled it great, everyone has told me that she handled herself so well but that doesn't make it okay. Doesn't make it right. I am just lucky she can handle herself. I'm just lucky she is okay. 'I watch her on the live feed and in the rest of the scenes from the show and I think she looks great.' 'I think she looks like she's doing what she always does,' the Dance Moms star went on. She continued: 'I mean, come on. It's kind of become a culture, it's become a game. 'It's a trend: 'Let's not like her. Let's hate her. Let's make fun of her. Let's tell her she's a bad dancer. Tell her she can't sing. Tell her you'll make her not a lesbian'.' More Trending 'What's next? Why don't you just take it for face value? 'It's funny I see a lot of comments that are like, 'I like JoJo when she's like this on the show'.' 'What do you mean? That's how she always is. You just don't see it. You choose not to. You see what you want to see.' View More » Celebrity Big Brother is available to watch on ITVX. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: JoJo Siwa's ex Kath Ebbs blasts 'attacks on my character' after Celebrity Big Brother split MORE: JoJo Siwa 'already jetting back to the UK' after Celebrity Big Brother MORE: JoJo Siwa finally reveals secret she wanted to tell Chris Hughes in Celebrity Big Brother house
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mickey Rourke avoids Celebrity Big Brother final amid reports he is suing ITV over pay after actor was booted off the show following homophobic slurs
Mickey Rourke was nowhere to be seen on Friday evening as he avoided an appearance during the Celebrity Big Brother final. The Hollywood star, 72, was removed from the house earlier in the series after making a series of homophobic slurs, sexual comments and for squaring up to Chris Hughes. And the actor is reportedly planning to sue ITV bosses after they 'cost him a big pay day' by booting him out. He is reportedly eyeing up a lawsuit against show bosses, claiming they purposely kicked him out to avoid giving him the big pay out he believes he deserves - after his earnings were slashed following his removal. He initially landed an eye-popping payday of £500,000 to appear on the show, but the disgraced star will now walk away with just £50,000, according to The Sun. And Mickey didn't return for Friday's final which saw Jack P Shepherd crowned winner of the show with Danny Beard finishing as runner-up and JoJo Siwa in third place. Mickey was given the boot for his repeated 'offensive and inappropriate' language, which included making vile sexual remarks towards Ella, 24; issuing homophobic threats to JoJo, 21; and turning on Chris. He asked the YouTuber and singer if she 'likes girls or boys', and when she explained she is attracted to women and has a partner, who is non-binary, he responded saying 'If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore'. The final confrontation then occurred during the pirate-themed shopping task when Mickey accused Chris of 'eyeballing' him' before calling the reality star a 'c***'. Earlier this week Ella revealed the extreme lengths she went to in order to avoid Mickey in the house as he made her feel 'uncomfortable'. Appearing on Late and Live on Wednesday Ella admitted she chose to move beds to make sure she wasn't close to Mickey. Talking about Chris and Jack, Pasty explained: 'They were in beds next to each other,' to which Angellica turned to Ella and added: 'But he started sleeping next to you first and then he moved'. Ella clarified: 'Yeah he moved because I moved. I was like "Jack do you mind swapping beds babe?"? But that wasn't anything to do with Chris and JoJo, it honestly wasn't. 'It was just because I was by Mickey, I didn't feel comfortable so it was best I moved away.' The final confrontation occurred during the pirate-themed shopping task when Mickey accused Chris of 'eyeballing' him' before calling the reality star a 'c***' Ella's comments came after Mickey, who was removed from the house for his behaviour, left her in tears with a vile sexual comment. Amid the pirate themed challenge TOWIE's Ella told the group: 'I have instructions for us all. We're not allowed in the bedroom, no one is allowed to touch the crisps or sweets.' 'I don't like them' Mickey said, as Ella continued: 'You've got to come with me'. To which The Wrestler actor responded: 'Come in you', shocked Drag Race star Danny Beard, 32, quickly interjected saying: 'Mickey, you can't make them jokes.' Later Mickey got into a heated altercation with Chris, 32, when he accused the Love Island star of 'eyeballing' him' before calling him a 'c***'. Following the outburst Chris told his fellow housemates: 'Mickey's just Mickey, you know what I mean'. But an emotional Ella broke down and said: 'It's fine, you can be just someone, but be mindful of what it can trigger in other people, because it's made me feel very uneasy'. Meanwhile Patsy Palmer refused to speak when she was quizzed about Mickey during her live eviction interview on Wednesday. The EastEnders actress, 52, became the fifth celebrity to be evicted from the house and was asked about her time on the show by hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best. However, despite it initially all going well, things took a very awkward turn when they asked her about Mickey criticising her cooking on the show. Mickey had previously confronted Patsy about her 'inedible' broccoli before she left the room and broke down in tears while sat in the Diary Room. Bringing up the ordeal didn't go down well with the soap star, who refused to discuss the exchange and Mickey, who was kicked off the show for unacceptable behaviour. Asking her about their conflict, Will said: 'There were a few tricky moments that you had to deal with in there, people complaining about broccoli - that was one, but you seemed to move past that? Patsy looked furious and simply shook her head, refusing to say more. Will said: 'You don't want to talk about the broccoli?' Trying to get her to open up, AJ added: 'Did it upset you that Mickey complained to your face about the food?' Still looking upset and angry, Patsy added: 'Not really that...' Both presenters then agreed it would be best to move on from the topic of Mickey.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mickey Rourke swerves Celebrity Big Brother final amid row with ITV over pay
Mickey Rourke left the Celebrity Big Brother house within days of entering due to his behaviour towards his housemates and was nowhere to be seen during the final on Friday night Axed Celebrity Big Brother housemate Mickey Rourke was nowhere to be seen during the final of the ITV series on Friday night. The Hollywood actor is reportedly planning to sue the broadcaster following his pay being cut due to his removal from the house. Coronation Street star Jack P Shepherd was crowned champion of the 2025 series of Celebrity Big Brother, with RuPaul Drag Race star Danny Beard coming runner-up. As the finalists left the house former housemates were in the studio to greet them - but Mickey was AWOL. Bafta-winning actor Rourke, 72, known for his roles in The Wrestler and Sin City, was kicked out of the house after further "use of inappropriate language" and "instances of unacceptable behaviour", including using "sexual language" in conversation with reality TV star Ella Rae Wise. It's since been reported that Rourke is planning to sue ITV after his pay was drastically cut due to his removal from the house. The actor is said to have been paid £500,000 for his Celebrity Big Brother stint but the fee was cut down to £50,000 thanks to his early exit. Rourke isn't happy with his compensation for his six-day stay. The Sun claims Rourke's team believes the actor was removed from the house in order to dodge paying him his full fee, as had he stayed one day longer he would have been eligible for a larger amound. The Only Way Is Essex star Ella Rae Wise said she was "glad" she will never have to see Rourke again after she was evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house on Tuesday. Ella, 24, was upset by Rourke after he used sexually suggestive language that made her feel uncomfortable. "I just didn't appreciate it, and that's all it was", Ella told ITV 's Lorraine. "And I feel that, for me, I just had distance from Mickey, and that was okay, and at the end of the day, it's just one of them things. I didn't appreciate what he said, and that's what it is, and that's how it's got to be. And I'm just glad that I've never got to see him again." Asked if the other housemates feel the same, she said: "I think a few of us do feel like that way, yeah. It was a difficult situation to be in, but I feel like I handled myself really well. And just let it be whatever it is, and just kept my distance." More than 1,000 complaints were made about Celebrity Big Brother following Rourke being reprimanded for making homophobic remarks to reality star JoJo Siwa. The Oscar-nominated actor agreed to leave the ITV1 show after "further use of inappropriate language" and "instances of unacceptable behaviour" earlier in the series. Rourke caused upset in the house from the start and was warned by Big Brother over "unacceptable language and behaviour" towards former Dance Moms star JoJo due to comments he made about her sexuality. Ofcom said that the moment, during April 9's episode, attracted 1,010 complaints, which the media watchdog said was related to his "language towards JoJo Siwa". During the instalment, Rourke asked the YouTuber and singer, 21, if she "likes girls or boys", and when she explained she is attracted to women and has a partner, who is non-binary, he responded saying "If I stay longer than four days, you won't be gay anymore". Later, he asked Love Island star Chris Hughes if the contestants have to vote their fellow housemates out, adding that he would "vote the lesbian out real quick". JoJo overheard replying: "That's homophobic, if that was your reasoning." Chris warned Rourke that he "can't do that" before the former boxer said "I need a fag", and gestured towards JoJo saying "I'm not talking to you". Rourke was told by Chris he "can't say that", and said she was "talking about a cigarette". JoJo was visibly upset, and comforted by Chris before Rourke was given a "formal warning" in the diary room that "further language or behaviour of this nature could lead to you being removed". There were a further 52 complaints for April 10's episode, which were "related to housemates behaviour towards Mickey Rourke , and his subsequent eviction". The actor's arrival last week during the live launch episode on April 7 also saw 78 complaints of viewers objecting to his "behaviour" towards co-host AJ Odudu. Before Rourke entered the Big Brother house, he twirled AJ around and pushed her body towards him, prompting co-host Will Best to advise him to be "careful". The actor, known for the movies Iron Man 2, 9 1/2 Weeks and Sin City, admitted before he left the house that he tried his "hardest to get out of here", and said he had a "short fuse". Rourke apologised for stepping "over the line" and losing his "temper", and his issues with "self-control". "I'm ashamed of myself for losing it for a few seconds there. Nobody got touched or hurt," he added. "Maybe some feelings got hurt or maybe others have feelings about others getting upset but, you know, I'm sorry about that."
