Celebrity Big Brother fans have praised Chris Hughes for being the ‘only housemate’ to stand up for Jojo Siwa after a vile homophobic attack from Mickey Rourke.
The Hollywood actor, 72, made an unacceptable homophobic remark towards the singer, 21, during a shocking exchange on Wednesday.
Mickey threatened to tie JoJo – who identifies as a lesbian – up and ‘convert her’. While asking her where the smoking area is, Mickey exclaimed: ‘I need a fag,’ before gesturing to JoJo and saying: ‘I’m not talking to you.’
Chris, 32, appeared to be the only one to stand up for JoJo as he called Mickey out on the disgusting comments.
JoJo thanked him for ‘having her back’, while the Love Island star insisted he was calling out unacceptable behaviour.Â
As he showed support to JoJo, she became emotional while they shared a hug, with viewers praising him on X.
One wrote: ‘Whi is Chris the only one backing JoJo up she’s 21 being bullied by an old man’;Â
‘That was tough to watch but made me so proud to see how quick Chris called him out and was there for JoJo’;
‘It’s crazy how several people heard what Mickey said but only Chris spoke up and defended JoJo’Â
Fans were disgusted at ‘vile’ Mickey’s homophobic comments towards JoJo, and called for him to be kicked out of the house.
While chatting with the singer, the actor insinuated he will be able to ‘make her straight’ after spending a few days with him in the house.
Discussing her sexuality, Mickey asks the influencer: ‘Do you like girls or boys?’ as she replies: ‘Me? Girls. My partner is non-binary.’
Insinuating he will be able to change her sexuality, Mickey then insists: ‘If I stay longer than four days, you won’t be gay anymore.’
JoJo then replies: ‘I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.’
Later in the garden, Mickey asks Chris if everyone has to vote one another out of the house as the Wrestler star confesses: ‘I’m going to vote the lesbian out real quick.’
Yet JoJo overhears as she hits back: ‘That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning.’
Defending JoJo, Chris interjects, ‘You can’t do that Mickey,’ yet the star is undeterred as he adds: ‘I need a fag’ before gesturing to JoJo and adding: ‘I’m not talking to you.’
As Chris once again hits back saying, ‘Mickey, you can’t say that.’ Mickey replies: ‘I know. I was talking about a cigarette.’
While JoJo is left visibly upset by the exchanged as Chris comforts her, Mickey is then called to the Diary Room and is issued a warning.
Big Brother told: ‘Mickey before you entered the Big Brother house the rules regarding unacceptable language and behaviour were explained to you.’
He then reads back the entire exchange to Mickey and then says: ‘Mickey, do you understand how this language could be offensive to your Housemates or the viewing public?’
Mickey the replies: ‘Yeah I think so. If I was saying it in a nasty kind of way or if I truly meant it.’
Big Brother continues: ‘Mickey, Big Brother thinks your language was offensive and unacceptable.’
‘Alright. I can understand that,’ Mickey agrees.
Big Brother then issues the star with a formal warning and explains: ‘Further language or behaviour of this nature could lead to you being removed from the Big Brother house. Mickey, do you understand?’
Mickey then adds, ‘Yes I do. It’s some serious stuff.’
Prompted by Big Brother he finally says sorry as he confesses: ‘I apologise. I don’t have dishonourable intentions – I’m just talking smack you know.
‘I wasn’t taking it all so serious. I didn’t mean in it any bad intentions and if I did, sorry.’
Fans were disgusted by the incident and shocked that Mickey only got a verbal warning, rather than being booted off the show.
One furious ITV viewer penned on social media platform X: ‘Mickey rourke not being kicked out of #CBBUK is harrowing based on the way he’s treated women from the get go and the way he spoke to/about Jojo is so gross and so upsetting to watch’;
‘absolutely disgraceful…making a young woman feel like that just for being herself??? mickey needs to be kicked out asap’;
‘He has shown absolutely no remorse whatsoever, vile behaviour from Mickey’
MailOnline has contacted ITV representatives for comment.
At the end of the show, JoJo used her killer nomination on Mickey, meaning he will face the public vote ahead of the first eviction.
Elsewhere during Wednesday’s episode, fans and housemates were left disgusted after watching Mickey Rourke’s disgusting kitchen habit
In the morning, Mickey was seen brushing his teeth in the kitchen sink.
Fans were also confused when the lights in the bedroom came on and they caught a glimpse of Mickey sleeping in his jeans on a sofa.
Elsewhere, Big Brother had to warn the star about covering the cameras, as he put a black T-shirt over one while getting dressed.
He was also reminded to wear his microphone at all times, after removing it to change.
It comes just two days after Mickey was slammed for his ‘creepy’ behaviour towards AJ Odudu during the launch of Celebrity Big Brother on Monday.
Viewers were left horrified when within minutes of his arrival, the actor was seen leering at the ITV host, 37, who appeared visibly uncomfortable.
The Wrestler star received 89 Ofcom complaints following the awkward interaction.
AJ’s co-host Will Best was praised by fans for protecting her as he stepped in and pulled Mickey back from AJ after he grabbed her arm.
Keeping her professional composure, AJ told the actor to ‘stop looking at me’ and turned him and directed him to the door, with the actor heard saying: ‘No, I want to stay with you.’
Will then added: ‘Don’t take AJ with you!’ and was later seen holding her hand as they presented their next live link.
Fans also took to X to say: ‘Scared for all the women in that house now with how Mickey was with AJ on live television mind you.’
‘I needed a scandal this season and i believe mickey rourke will provide it.’
‘Oh dear. Not a fan of Mickey already after that entrance.’
‘Everyone’s joking about Mickey Rouke and I get why, but I want to be serious for a second.’
Celebrity Big Brother continues on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2025: MEET THE LINEUP!
MICKEY ROURKEÂ
AGE:Â 72
FAMOUS FOR:Â The actor and former pro boxer is one of the show’s biggest ever signings and after public feuds with Robert De Niro, two marriages and a string of high profile relationships, producers will be hoping he brings plenty of drama.
DALEY THOMPSON
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR:Â The double Olympic gold-medallist is considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes, and he would no doubt cause a stir with younger celebrities if he entered the house. He broke the decathlon world record four times.
PATSY PALMER
AGE:Â 52
FAMOUS FOR: It’s an open secret that Patsy is leaving EastEnders, with the actress enjoying a wild leaving party this month. The Bianca Jackson star posted a snap of her character on Instagram with the caption: ‘Bye bye B, always grateful to see her again.’
DONNA PRESTON
AGE:Â 38
FAMOUS FOR:Â While Donna has featured in several TV shows and movies, the comedy star is known for hosting Apocalypse and for the role of a circus Compere in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. She plays Den in Coronation Street, has featured in Pants On Fire in 2019 and even wrote and co-produced BBC Three’s Comedy Threesomes.
CHESNEY HAWKES
AGE:Â 53
FAMOUS FOR:Â The singer topped the charts for five weeks in 1991 with his hit The One And Only, before making a string of acting and TV appearances. His arrival on CBB has been described by a TV source as ‘perfect timing’, as he’s set to release a comeback album in April.
ANGELLICA BELL
AGE:Â 49
FAMOUS FOR:Â The TV presenter is said to have landed a staggering five-figure deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Fans will be keen to see if the CBBC legend spills all on her untimely exit from The Martin Lewis Show – which left fans baffled back in 2023. Angellica currently co-presents Hits Radio while Fleur East is on maternity leave.
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DANNY BEARDÂ
AGE:Â 32
FAMOUS FOR:Â The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner – whose real name is Daniel Curtis – has signed up as a late entry. Danny previously made headlines after swearing on Big Brother’s Late & Live last March whilst doing an impression of housemate Louis Walsh. The incident saw the guest say the word ‘c***’ before immediately apologising after being informed they weren’t allowed to say that on the show.
CHRIS HUGHES
 AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: After shooting to fame on Love Island in 2017, Chris went on to become a sports presenter and regularly hosts the horse racing coverage on ITV.
JOJO SIWA
AGE:Â 21
FAMOUS FOR: The American singer, who shot to stardom on reality show Dance Moms, is expected to draw a big American audience. The hitmaker has made a name for herself in the U.S. pop charts and is known for her outlandish looks and being a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community.
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TRISHA GODDARD
AGE: 67
FAMOUS FOR: The talk show host regularly presented on ITV from 1998 to 2004 and then shifted to Channel 5 from 2004 to 2010. Trisha has been suffering horrible side effects of her chemotherapy – but has bravely battled on.
JACK P. SHEPHERD
AGE: 37
FAMOUS FOR: The actor has played David Platt in Corrie since 2000 and is following in his pal Colson Smith’s footsteps by taking part in the popular reality show. He has won a string of awards for the role including Best Actor at the British Soap Awards.
ELLA RAE WISEÂ
AGE:Â 24
FAMOUS FOR:Â Producers have been keen to land the TV personality, who previously dated Pete Wicks and has had an on-off romance with Dan Edgar. Bosses are hoping the TOWIE star might reveal all about some of her other famous exes.
MICHAEL FABRICANTÂ
AGE:Â 74
FAMOUS FOR: The former Conservative politician is understood to have signed a lucrative six-figure deal to take part after political stars were banned from the broadcaster’s other reality show, I’m A Celeb. He served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the party under David Cameron. But he is perhaps best known for his blond mop for which he has been widely ridiculed but repeatedly denies is a wig.
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