Rourke Refuses to Apologize for Gay Slurs

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 12th 2009 11:55AM

Mickey Rourke has activists up in arms after he attempted to defend video footage of him calling a journalist a gay slur. "I don't really give a f***. Life's too short," Rourke told UK's The Sun. "I have more gay friends than any 50 straight people I know, so I don't really give a s***. I meant what I said," he added.

The film, dating back to last November, features an inebriated Rourke hitting back at a reporter for claiming he was dating actress Evan Rachel Wood. "She's a good friend, that's it. And tell that f***ot who wrote all that shit in the paper I'd like to break his f****** legs," he said.

Previously Rourke whipped up controversy in the past when he called Sean Penn "one of the most homophobic people I know" - in reference to the actor's portrayal of gay activist Harvey Milk in 'Milk.'

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What Did They Say?

As gay activists strive for equal rights, Hollywood has been under fire for using derogatory slurs in everyday language. From Isaiah Washington to Perez Hilton, see how "anti-gay" remarks have made headlines. >>>

Jemal Countess, Getty Images

They Said What?!

Perez Hilton: Celebrity blogger used slurs against Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am following an altercation at the MuchMusic Video Awards. While Perez is standing by his comments, activists are outraged. "For someone in our own community to use it to attack another person is incredibly dangerous... It legitimizes use of a slur and sends a message that it is OK to attempt to dehumanize people by exploiting anti-gay attitudes."

Cory Schwartz, Getty Images

Mickey Rourke: Rourke is defending video footage, which dates back to last November, of him calling a journalist a "fa**ot." The actor says he has plenty of gay friends, so it's okay for him to use it.

Jemal Countess, Getty Images

Shia LaBeouf: In a viral YouTube video, LaBeouf calls the friend an anti-gay slur – and gets hit in return. After the video surfaced online, LaBeouf's rep went on damage control: "He regrets having used the word in any capacity and is very embarrassed that this footage is being seen by anyone."

Matt Sayles, AP

Jerry Lewis: During the 2007 Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Jerry Lewis almost let a gay slur slip while live on air. While talking to a cameraman, he joked: "Oh, your family has come to see you. You remember Bart, your oldest son, Jesse, the illiterate fa...", at which point he turned away from the camera as he apparently caught himself and ceased the gag in mid-sentence. He later apologized.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Isaiah Washington:While filming 'Grey's Anatomy' in 2006, Patrick Dempsey and Washington had a argument, in which Washington used the word "fa***t." That led to his estrangement from another co-star, T.R. Knight, now openly gay. The controversy resurfaced when the cast appeared at the Golden Globes in 2007 denying he ever used the slur. Despite apologizing, ABC dropped him from the show.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Scott Caan: Scott Caan, son of James Caan, got attacked the paparazzi with a gay slur and told him to get a real job. In his apology. Caan said, "I am sorry for using such a derogatory word. I was being harassed by a paparazzi, and unfortunately, the word slipped out. I don't ever condone the use of that word and I deeply apologize to anyone whom I may have offended."

Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images

Eminem: Eminem uses numerous anti-gay slurs in his albums, which have enraged Gay and Lesbian Alliance groups. He let the controversy simmer when he performed live with Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards. He poked fun at himself during the 2009 MTV movie Awards, when he was in on the joke, having prankster Sacha Baron Cohen (dressed as thong-wearing alter-ego, Bruno) land crotch first in his face.

Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic

But do gay friends give Rourke the right to use the derogatory statements? Campaigners at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation are fuming and want a solid apology from the actor.

A spokesman for the group retaliated saying, "This is a slur that, regardless of what Mickey Rourke has convinced himself that it means, is often the last word that gay people, and gay youth in particular, hear before they're bullied, harassed or assaulted. Rourke is showing himself to be painfully ignorant of how this vulgar, abusive slur feeds a climate of anti-gay hatred, intolerance and violence. Rourke either needs to figure this out, or media needs to stop giving him a platform for promoting these kinds of slurs."

Rourke isn't the only celebrity who's made headlines after using a gay slur. He joins the ranks of Jerry Lewis, Isaiah Washington, Eminem and even openly gay blogger Perez Hilton who have been caught in the media whirlwind after using anti-gay slurs.

Tags: Mickey Rourke, MickeyRourke

Comments

(355)

Monday 12 October

By mitch

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

im a humanbeing , i just dont get some people are this , some people are that . what the hell is wrong with this country !!!!!!!!!!! a person should be able to say whatever they want . i mean whatever ! if you dont like it tuff !!! sticks and stones , remember that one . old school ! peace out .

By mike

I hate HOMO------------You know, Homoginized milk!

By Dano

Vote down Vote up Report this

Well it's OK for queers to call straight people "F'n Breeders, Rednecks, ignorant and inbred. Well there are some inbred straight people but all they produce is more queers. LMAO Get a life people. If your GAY what the hell do you care what Mr Rourke has to say, or for that matter any actor. They are just people, and will not change anybody's mind any more than yours can be changed.Tataa girls, don't break a nail over it.

By Neil

Oh so now we are a bigot because we call homos fags. Well tell you what turn your ass around jump back into your closet,lock it. By doing that you don't have to push your agender on the world.And another thing if I hear being a homo is a mental or physical disorder than why is there not even one adrug for it? Bottom line it's a lifestyle and chose it.

By carol

I don't care if he apologizes or not but I will say that his comments in total laced with all the profanity offends me. That does not mean I don't think he has the right to state his opinion. It is just so sad that so many people cannot make a sentence without using such disgusting, revolting language. Just wondering if their vocabulary is so limited that using this language is the best they can do or if they have so little respect for themselves and others they just don't care. We are in a culture freefall in this country and it is tragic.

By john

Because gays are an abomination and deserve nothing but therapy it was a perfect statement he made

By bill

Give him a break. Maybe he was drinking and just opened up a bit too much. No wait! Oooops I forgot - Mickey Rourke - sorry. Maybe he wasn't drinking and just opened up.

By Matt

Go Mickey dont back down to these people unnatural people. They forget if it wasnt for heterosexuals they would not be here. (none of us would be) They are going against the oldest law of nature

By stan

people in general are just too sensitive and offended by everything. mickey rourke has the right to express himself , and these over sensitive alternative lifestyle people need to grow a back bone and just ignore him.

By KweenBee

Wasn't the word "faggot" a slang for a cigarette in the 40s-50s? I think people take words and twist their original meaning making them bad. I have lots of friends who live an alternate lifestyle, and have heard them refer to each other as "fag" "queen" and being too "gay" or too "fem". Just like Black people calling each other Niggah, but using the N word is wrong. Just a thought...peace

By bob

No on has the right to demand an apology from anyone for anything-this is nonsense. We should all be able to judge what people say and do on our own-we don't need the help of an organization..

By T

SAY IT LIKE IT IS MICKEY! DONT MINCE WORDS! ........BY THE WAY "THE WRESTLER" WAS GREAT AND HIT CLOSE TO HOME WITH ME, THANX FOR DOING THAT PIC!

By lita

I still bristle when I hear gay people refer to one another as queer, and black people refer to one another using "the N word." Not all gays do this, not all blacks do this. These words diminish us all.

By big poppy

If Rourke were to use the "N" word in reference to another minority group, there would be major outrage. Why is it any different for anti-gay slurs?

because you don't choose to be black or white, but you definitely choose whether or not to perform gay sex with someone of the same sex...

By Incited

Let Rourke or anyone else say what they please. America needs to lift this veil of think it but don't say it. I know I am hated by many blacks etc. for being a white male...they don't say it...but I can tell by the disdainful looks alone. I'd rather have someone come up to me call me something then to hide behind their ignorance. If we all learned to open up and be honest with one another a dialogue would start and we would be closer to the ideal that all of these Poli-Cor's want so badly. Grow a nut, America.

By time2getreal2012

Why can't the gays apologize for their offensive behavior? I get very offended when I see two men or two women engaging in public displays of intimacy. I demand an apology from homosexuals. Wait, what...oh, yeah...they didn't do anything wrong. You know, other than spread disease and all..

By Jon

Ya, because only gay people spread disease, right? You're such an idiot.

By Bubba

I doubt if anyone actually cares what he says. I'm glad he has more Gay friends than any other 5 people. Hopefully, he has plenty of Negro friends so that when he calls someone a N.igger, none of them will be offended. After all, if you have friends of a particular minority, it's acceptable to use derogatory terms when referring to them.

By Joan Hussey

where is my email so my comment can be addaded

By Frank

Maybe the guy is a f***ot.

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