A GoFundMe campaign claimed to raise money for actor Mickey Rourke due to a threatened eviction, sparking widespread attention and donations that exceeded $101,000 before being paused. However, on Sunday, Rourke publicly declared he had no involvement in the Mickey Rourke GoFundMe controversy, voicing frustration and confusion over the fundraiser’s existence. The campaign had been organized by Liya-Joelle Jones, reportedly a friend and member of his management team, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rourke Strongly Rejects Charity and Addresses Supporters Directly
Rourke took to Instagram, making it clear that the idea of soliciting donations from strangers runs counter to his principles. During a five-minute video response, he repeatedly asserted his discomfort with the notion of public financial aid.
“That’s not me. I’d rather… If I needed money, I wouldn’t ask for no fucking charity, I’d rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger,”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
“My life is very simple, I don’t go to outside sources like that. Yeah, it is embarrassing, but I’m sure I’ll get over it like anything else, everything else.”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
He urged potential donors in direct terms to refrain from supporting the campaign and to seek a refund if they had already contributed, referencing GoFundMe’s refund options.
“Don’t give any money. And if you gave money, get it back,”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
Reflecting on Career and Personal Challenges
In the video, Rourke opened up about his personal struggles and the difficulties he has faced throughout his career, acknowledging his own mismanagement and the toll it has taken.
“Listen, I’ve done a really terrible job of managing my career. I wasn’t very diplomatic. I had to go to over 20 years of therapy to get over the damage that was done to me years ago,”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
He further stated his commitment to personal growth and credited professional collaborators like Robert Rodriguez, Francis Ford Coppola, and Darren Aronofsky as witnesses to his efforts in becoming a better person.
“I worked very hard to work through that, and I’m not that person anymore,”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
Living Conditions and Dispute with Landlord
Rourke described the hardships he endured in his recent living situation, detailing deterioration in the rental property after a change in ownership. He emphasized that he refused to pay rent after the living conditions became unacceptable, citing ongoing issues such as infestations and lack of essential repairs.
“I was in a really bad situation with a place I was renting. Everything was good for five or six years and then two scumbags from New York bought the house and they wouldn’t fix anything, so I said I’m not paying rent. Because there’s mice, there’s rats, the floor is rotten, one bathtub there’s no water, two different sinks there was no water. And this was all coming at the same time.”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
Rourke hinted at the possibility of these property owners being connected to the GoFundMe effort, yet remained adamant he would not request financial support from anyone.
“I don’t know if those two scumbags are behind it—I mean, we’re gonna go to court. But I would never ask strangers or fans or anybody for a nickel. I mean, that’s not my style.”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
Legal Notice and Reaction to Public Attention
According to the Los Angeles Times, Rourke was issued an eviction notice, instructing him to vacate his rental unit by December 18, with nearly $60,000 cited as overdue rent. Rourke expressed deep embarrassment over the situation, acknowledging how difficult the attention and circumstances have been.
“It’s humiliating and it’s really fucking embarrassing,”
— Mickey Rourke, Actor
Despite the unfolding public controversy, Rourke ended his message with a wish for brighter days ahead, offering holiday greetings to his supporters:
He wished
“everyone a Merry Christmas, and hoped that you have a good one next year if you didn’t this year.”
