Mickey Rourke faced criticism for “grabbing” and “ogling” AJ Odudu during his entrance into the Celebrity Big Brother house. The incident occurred on Monday (7 April), as the second celebrity edition of ITV’s rebooted reality series kicked off with a new lineup of stars.
Oscar-nominated Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke was revealed as the final housemate, but his entrance sparked backlash after he behaved inappropriately toward presenter AJ Odudu. Following a handshake with co-host Will Best, Rourke extended his hand to Odudu, spun her around, and pulled her in close. Best was heard cautioning him, saying, “Careful, Mickey.”
Odudu tried to laugh off the moment, but as she attempted to start a conversation, Rourke kept staring at her backside, prompting her to say, “Stop looking at me!” When she and Best encouraged him to head into the house, Rourke stayed put, continuing to stare at her and saying, “I wanna stay with you.”
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Odudu returned to co-host the second season of ITV’s rebooted celebrity edition of the reality show with Will Best, where Oscar-nominated actor Rourke was introduced as a housemate.
During the aftershow Late & Live, guest Alan Carr commented:
Can we talk about Mickey Rourke looking at you? Wow his eyes. Find someone who looks at you the way Mickey looks at you. His tongue was hanging out.
It literally was. I was like, ‘You can’t afford these feathers Mickey, no!’
Odudu replied
The moment also left viewers uneasy, with one person writing: “Someone get some security for AJ from Mickey Rourke because what the hell was that????”
Mickey Rourke low key just sexually assaulted Aj??? He literally pushed himself against her and then devoured her with his eyes
Another added
The way he’s looking at her up and down..so creepy. Poor Aj. No woman should have to put up with such pervy behavior….wtf.
a separate viewer wrote on X/Twitter,
The most embarrassing moment was when Michael Fabricant came out but I’m glad he got booed by everyone….his desperation for high fives was so cringe and awkward as well!
with one more person stating
Before Rourke’s entrance—which was leaked last week—The Independent’s Adam White described the actor’s involvement as “acutely depressing,” noting that the Wrestler and Angel Heart star has “a frustrating propensity for self-sabotage.”
In his entrance VT, Rourke shared that he’s close friends with actor Ray Winstone and said Winstone encouraged him to “have fun” in the house. Rourke joins a lineup that includes former child reality star Jojo Siwa, broadcaster Trisha Goddard, Coronation Street actor Jack P Shepherd, and former Conservative MP Michael Fabricant.
Source: Independent