Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: JoJo Siwa, Mickey Rourke, US News, UK News, Film and TV, LGBTQ
Liv Bridge
Topics: JoJo Siwa, Mickey Rourke, US News, UK News, Film and TV, LGBTQ
JoJo Siwa's mom has slammed the homophobic comments Mickey Rourke made towards her daughter on Celebrity Big Brother.
The 72-year-old Hollywood actor and former boxer has faced a lot of criticism after making a series of homophobic and offensive remarks towards JoJo Siwa on the British TV show.
The pair entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in the UK on April 7 alongside 11 other celebrities.
However, viewers were left horrified by the Iron Man 2 star's behavior towards the 21-year-old media personality, with some of his comments include saying he was 'going to vote the lesbian out real quick' and that she 'won't be gay anymore' if he stayed 'longer than four days'.
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He also indicated he wanted to go to the smoking area, stating: "I need a f*g," before pointing at Siwa and adding: "I'm not talking to you."
Following the exchange, the 'Karma' singer was later left in tears and received a hug from co-star Chris Hughes, who also called out Rourke for his comments.
The former boxer was given a formal warning about his 'offensive and unacceptable' language by Big Brother, leading to Rourke to issue an apology to Siwa, which she accepted.
Since then, Siwa's partner Kath Ebbs, who identifies as non-binary, addressed the disturbing incident on Instagram, saying Rourke's remarks made them 'sick to my stomach'.
Now, Siwa's mom, Jessalynn Siwa, has also broken her silence and posted her own video on Instagram.
"I'm not surprised, honestly. I'm not surprised he didn't go home," the 50-year-old said. "I knew he wouldn't."
"I'm really sad, though, that I sent my kid, and she is my kid, I am her mom, she is 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 continued.
The Dance Moms star seemed to hold back tears as she went on to say: "I think she handled it great. I think 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 I watch her 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."
Referencing past comments her daughter has received as a public figure, Jessalyn said: "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'.'"
She concluded: "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."