Actor Mickey Rourke denied any involvement when setting up a GoFundMe page which was supposedly created for help him avoid eviction.
“Someone set up some kind of fund or foundation for me to donate money to, like, charity, and it’s not me, okay?” Rourke said in the video. posted on Instagram on Monday. “If I needed money, I wouldn't ask for any charity. I'd rather stick the gun up my ass and pull the trigger.”
Rourke, 73, who was holding his dog Lucky while the video was recorded, said he was “embarrassed” and “upset.”
“Whoever did this… I don't know why they did it. I don't understand it. I wouldn't know what a GoFund was in a million years,” Rourke continued. “My life is very simple. I don't turn to such outside sources. And yes, it's awkward, but I'm sure I can handle it like I do everything else.”
GoFundMe pagewhich was organized by Leah-Joelle Jones, assistant to Rourke's manager Kimberly Hines, has now raised more than its $100,000 goal. Donations are currently suspended.
The donation page description stated that “Mickey Rourke is an icon, but his journey, as painful as it may have been, is also deeply human. This is the story of a man who gave everything to his work, took real risks and paid real costs.”
It also said the purpose of the fundraiser was to “give Mickey stability and peace of mind during an extremely stressful time – so he can remain in his home and have the space to get back on his feet.”
In his video, Rourke said he has “done a terrible job” of managing his career.
“I wasn't very diplomatic. I had to go through over 20 years of therapy to overcome the damage that was done to me years ago,” Rourke said Monday. “I've worked really hard to get over this and I'm not that person anymore, but I can't be the one to say this – you need to talk to the last few people I worked with. Talk to Robert Rodriguez, talk to Francis. [Ford] Coppola, talk to Darren Aronofsky. I’m not the wild man I was 20-something years ago, but you pay a price for your past.”
The GoFundMe page claimed it was launched with the Oscar-nominated actor's “full permission” and asked fans to “help Mickey Rourke stay in his home.”
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But that's not the case, according to Rourke, who said he plans to talk to his lawyers.
“This thing is very awkward. And if you gave money, don't give any money, and if you gave money, get it back, regardless of whether you gave cash, a check or whoever you sent it to,” Rourke said. “I'm going to talk to my lawyer any time. I hate talking to him. I've always had one and I love him. But I'm going to talk to Bill and get to the bottom of it.”
Rourke said there was only one person he could think of “who could do such a thing,” but did not name them.
“I hope it's not the person I'm thinking about, but it's humiliating. If I needed money – and I borrowed some money from a really good friend of mine. Eventually, I'll say who it was… and he got me out of a jam. You know, COVID and the writers' strike killed my money,” Rourke said.
He also shared details about the legal situation regarding his rent after he received three days notice pay rent or vacate the premises by Dec. 18, 2025, and have failed to comply, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and reviewed by Los Angeles Times.
“I had a really bad situation with a place I was renting. Everything was fine for five or six years, and then two scumbags from New York bought the house and didn't fix anything,” Rourke said. “I said I don't pay rent because there are mice, rats, the floor is rotten… We're going to go to court, but I would never ask strangers or fans or anyone else for a penny. I mean, that's not my style. You ask anyone who knows me, it's humiliating and it's really fucking awkward.”
Rourke told his fans he was “very grateful for what I have” and assured them he had “a roof over my head.”
“Just get your money back, please,” Rourke concluded. “I don't need anyone's money and I wouldn't do it. I have too much pride, man.”
Manager Rourke Hines told Deadline that her team created the page “out of desperation” after Rourke was served an eviction notice.
“We’re trying to do the best we can,” Hines said. “My assistant started this to help Mickey as a nice gesture because he was kicked out of the house.”
Hines said the GoFundMe “was created without any malicious intent.”
“The money isn't going away. If Mickey decides he doesn't want it, the money will be returned to his fans,” she added.
As of this writing, GoFundMe has not publicly commented on Rourke's fundraising efforts.
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