JoJo Siwa praised for her response to Mickey Rourke’s homophobic ‘rape joke’ and disgusting remarks

Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.

JoJo Siwa has been inundated with praise from fans online following her incredible response to her Celebrity Big Brother housemate Mickey Rourke’s homophobic 'rape joke' and disgusting remarks made towards her.

During last night's episode (9 April) of the latest season of the hit reality TV show, 72-year-old Mickey left ITV viewers beyond disgusted when he 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 threatening to 'tie her up'.

JoJo promptly shut down the Sin City actor's comments by saying that she could 'guarantee' that such a scenario wouldn't happen.

Mickey was later heard telling former Love Islander Chris Hughes that he was 'going to vote the lesbian out real quick'.

JoJo overheard the nasty comment and was understandably upset, as she explained: "That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning."

Clearly not reading the room, Mickey then declared that he was going for a 'f*g', before pointing to JoJo 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.

He was later called to the diary room where he was issued with a formal warning about 'unacceptable language and behaviour' inside the house.

Celebrity Big Brother contestant Mickey Rourke has been called out for his homophobic comments to fellow housemate JoJo Siwa (ITV)

"I apologise. I don’t have dishonourable intentions - I’m just talking smack, you know," he claimed. "I wasn’t taking it all so serious. I didn’t mean in it any bad intentions and if I did, sorry."

Mickey later apologised to JoJo: "I want to apologise. I've got a habit of having a short fuse. And I don't mean nothing by it. I do mean it [sorry]. If I didn't, I wouldn't say it to you."

JoJo's partner, Kath Ebbs, who is non-binary, has since broken their silence on the 'rape joke' made by Mickey.

Branding him a 'pig' in a series of understandably furious Instagram stories, Kath explained: "The five-minute clip, which was the whole conversation has so many f*cking layers to it, it is crazy. Firstly, he asked her if she was into boys or girls. She answers that she is gay.

"He then proceeds to tell her that he is going to turn her straight if he is in the house long enough. She shuts it down,"

"Once she shuts it down he says he is going to tie her up. That is a rape joke. That is. Call it what it is."

JoJo has been praised for her reaction to Mickey's shocking comments (ITV)

Fans have since rushed to social media to share their praise following JoJo's response to Mickey's vile comments.

One X user penned: "JoJo Siwa, a 21-year-old girl, showing she has LEVELS of more maturity than a 72 year old man."

"JoJo Siwa is wonderful and that's not a sentence I thought I'd ever say," commended a second.

"JoJo Siwa is really great, isn't she? A mature, smart, young woman," wrote a third and another congratulated: "JoJo is very switched on and smart for her age. Love that for her."

Another X user echoed: "The way JoJo was nothing but kind to that man when she had every opportunity to tell him to shut the f*ck up."

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]