AceShowbiz - After Mickey Rourke was ejected from "Celebrity Big Brother" due to a series of inappropriate behaviors, Keith Mason, a retired rugby league player and close friend of Rourke, took a stand to fiercely defend the actor.

Mason blamed the "woke culture cancel brigade" for Rourke's exit. "I hear my old mate Mickey Rourke has left the big brother house. Not sure what happened as I don't watch it, but I'm guessing you have to watch what you say or the woke culture cancel brigade will be out to get you!" he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Controversy started almost immediately after Rourke made his entrance on the show. He made inappropriate comments towards host AJ Odudu before entering the house and later directed homophobic remarks at fellow housemate JoJo Siwa.

The actor also offended other contestants including Chris Hughes, Donna Preston, Ella Rae Wise, and Patsy Palmer.

Rourke warned his co-stars of his short temper from the beginning of the show. "I don't take orders very well, but if everyone is nice and respectful we can have a good time," he told his housemates. "As long as nobody pushes the envelope, because the envelope has a very short fuse."

Rourke's controversy was not limited to the U.K. reality show. While he was still on the show, former co-star Bella Thorne took to social media to accuse him of misconducts on set of their 2020 movie "Girl".

"He's supposed to take a metal grinder to my knee cap and instead he used it on my genitals thru my jeans. Hitting them over and over again," Thorne recalled one particular unpleasant experience with Rourke. "So many gross stories of things he made me go through on that movie."

Following his exit from "Big Brother", there are even speculations about Rourke's remuneration. While celebrities typically receive their full payment even if evicted early, those who quit or are asked to leave may have to forfeit their earnings. With Rourke expected to lose a significant portion of his £500,000 fee to taxes, immediate financial gains might be further impacted by his controversial exit.

While the controversy stirs, the show must go on with remaining housemates now battling for the coveted prize, their dynamic profoundly changed following Rourke's explosive departure.