Jessalyn Siwa, the mother of JoJo Siwa, has stepped into the spotlight to comment on the recent backlash stemming from Mickey Rourke’s comments aimed at her daughter during an episode of Celebrity Big Brother UK. The remarks, which were made earlier in April 2025, have drawn widespread criticism and concern.
Jessalyn Siwa Responds to Controversy Surrounding Mickey Rourke
In an emotional Instagram video posted on April 12, Jessalyn expressed her feelings about the situation:
“I’m not surprised, honestly. I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t go home. I knew he wouldn’t.”
While she conveyed her disappointment regarding the experiences JoJo faced on the show, Jessalyn took a moment to commend her daughter for maintaining her composure amidst such adversity.
Mickey Rourke’s Remarks Spark Outrage
During his time on Celebrity Big Brother UK, Mickey Rourke made a statement suggesting that JoJo Siwa would “not be gay anymore”if she remained in the house for more than four days. JoJo affirmed her identity, responding:
“I can guarantee I’ll still be gay. And I’ll still be in a very happy relationship [with Kath Ebbs].”
The controversy escalated when Rourke reportedly directed a homophobic insult towards JoJo in a discussion with fellow contestant Chris Hughes. Jessalyn articulated her distress over the treatment JoJo endured:
“I’m really sad, though, that I sent my kid — and she is my kid because I am her mom and 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.”
JoJo’s Strength and Resilience
In her Instagram update, Jessalyn praised JoJo’s impressive response to the ugly comments:
“I think she handled it great. I think that everyone’s told me she’s handled herself so well… Doesn’t make it OK [or] doesn’t make it right. I’m just lucky she can handle herself. I’m just lucky she is OK.”
Continuing to follow her daughter’s journey on Celebrity Big Brother, Jessalyn highlighted that JoJo remains authentic despite the surrounding negativity. She remarked:
“I’ve been watching her in the rest of the scenes from the show, and I think she looks great… She’s doing what she always does… Now tell her ‘You’ll make her not a lesbian.’ What’s next? Why don’t you just take her for face value?”
Kath Ebbs Speaks Out Against Rourke’s Comments
JoJo’s partner, Kath Ebbs, has also shared her thoughts regarding Rourke’s remarks. On April 9, 2025, she addressed the issue in an Instagram post, labeling his behavior as “beyond disgusting.” Ebbs expressed her fierce protective instincts towards JoJo:
“Not only because that is the literal love of my life and I want to protect her at all costs… but secondly take the fact out that I have massive emotional stakes in the comments towards her.”
Kath emphasized the hurtfulness of Rourke’s comments, commenting on their personal implications and the misogynistic undertones present:
“He deemed her unf****** in that moment and then went if the male gaze is not apart of this situation and I have no power over you s*xually… That is a r*pe joke, that’s what that is, call it what it is.”
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