Mickey Rourke Denies GoFundMe Campaign for Rent

Actor Mickey Rourke has publicly denied involvement in a GoFundMe campaign reportedly established to assist with his rent payments. The fundraiser aimed to raise $100,000 to cover owed rent for his Los Angeles home after he received an eviction notice. Rourke took to Instagram to clarify that he did not authorize the campaign and urged donors to reclaim their contributions.

The 73-year-old actor expressed strong disapproval of the fundraiser, describing the situation as humiliating. He confirmed that while he has faced financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the writer's strike, he would never ask strangers for money. Rourke stated that a friend had lent him funds to help him through his current difficulties. His manager later confirmed that her team created the page to assist the actor after he was ejected from his rental property.

Actor Mickey Rourke has publicly distanced himself from a GoFundMe campaign reportedly set up to help him pay rent. The fundraiser was initiated to collect $59,100 in owed rent after the 73-year-old star received an eviction notice from his Los Angeles rental home. Although the fundraiser was allegedly created with Rourke's permission by his longtime manager, the actor has vehemently denied any involvement.

In a video posted to his Instagram account, Rourke stated that he was not behind the GoFundMe and called on fans who had already donated to get their money back. He threatened legal action to determine who was responsible for the campaign. At the time of his statement, the fundraiser had raised $97,609 of its $100,000 target from 2,600 donations.

Rourke expressed his frustration regarding the situation, stating:

"Something’s come up that I’m really frustrated, confused and I don’t understand. Somebody set up some kind of foundation or fund for me to donate money, like charity. And that’s not me, OK?"

He further emphasized his stance against asking for financial assistance:

"If I needed money I wouldn’t ask for no f***ing charity. I’d rather stick a gun up my ass and pull the trigger."

The actor admitted that he had done a "terrible job" managing his career and confirmed that a friend had stepped in to lend him money. He attributed his financial woes to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the writer's strike, which "killed my money." Rourke assured his followers that he was managing his situation and urged them not to contribute to the fundraiser.

Rourke also described the poor living conditions of a prior rental home, which presumably led to his move to the property facing eviction. He accused the new landlords of neglecting necessary repairs:

• Mice and rats infesting the property
• Rotten flooring
• One bathtub with no water
• Sinks lacking running water

Despite these difficulties, Rourke maintained that he would never ask strangers for financial help. He stated:

"I would never ask strangers or fans or anybody for a nickel. That's not my style. It's humiliating and it's really f***ing embarassing."

He concluded his video by expressing gratitude for his current situation, noting, "I got a roof over my head. I’ve got food to eat."

Following Rourke's public statement, reports identified the creator of the GoFundMe as Liya-Joelle Jones, an assistant to Rourke's manager of nine years, Kimberly Hines. Hines confirmed that her team was behind the page, which they created to help Rourke after he was served an eviction notice last month and moved to a local hotel.

According to reports, Rourke had signed a lease on a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in March 2025 for $5,200 per month, which was later raised to $7,000 per month. He received a three-day notice to pay rent or vacate in mid-December but failed to comply, resulting in his removal from the property.

This incident follows a turbulent period for the actor, who was ejected from Celebrity Big Brother UK in 2025 due to inappropriate language and behavior. His manager later announced plans to take legal action against the reality show, claiming producers were aware of his public persona but refused to pay his full agreed fee after his exit.